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T. h . e Acadian Proscript 



A HISTORICAL DRAMA 
I N FIVE A C T S = 




WALTER S. KERR 



PRESS OF 

H A R R I N CTO N - M c I N N I S COMPANY 

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA 



ivy 



THE 

ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 

A HISTORICAL DRAMA 

EST FIVE ACTS 



WALTER S. K EI R R 

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PRESS OF 

HARRINGTON- MclNNIS COMPANY 
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA 



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51 



LIBRARY of C0N3RESS 
Two Cocies Received 
FEB 12 190/ 




Copyright 

1907 

By Wai/ter S. Kerr 



CHARACTERS 



AS CONCEDED IN THE PLAY 



GENERAL WINSLOW. 

Large, florid, pompous at times, rather illiterate, affable, vain 
of his attire and vainer of his pedigree and although American 
born, a loyalist to the end. Much of his speech here is historical 
and his dramatic action closely follows the written record. His 
still extant portrait hangs on the walls of the Mass. Historical 
Society, in whose archives also is to be found "Winslow's Jour- 
nal," giving in awful detail the primary facts of the unhappy 
part he took in the horrible Acadian Deportation. He died, I 
believe, during the American Revolution, a political refugee, 
forsaken, heart-broken and disgraced. The descendants of "La 
Tourmente" still hold his name in execration, a fate he does 
not at all deserve. 



ADMIRAL BOSCAWEN. 

Small statured, knotty looking but extremely dapper, wry- 
necked, quick-worded, raven voiced, thin faced, bushy browed, 
aged looking though young. He is autocratic with inferiors, 
obsequious to those above him in office and despises American 
generals and their methods of campaigning. Really a man of 
splendid ability and successful in his campaigns. 

Costume, English admiral of his times. 



GENERAL MONCTON. 

Tall, lithe, handsome, pale, aristocratic, Voltairish, hawk-eyed, 
furtively keen, despising the American militia and colonial offi- 
cers, illy concealing his contempt for military pretension wher- 
ever found. Middle aged (45 years). 



GOV. CHARLES LAWRENCE. 

Huge, bison-shouldered, bull-necked, deep voiced, ready and 
rough brained — a mightily forceful character. He formerly was 
a boat painter of obscure origin along the Thames and though 
inherently dishonest and relentlessly cruel in military methods 
he was a jolly, good natured man, loving physical sports and 
dancing. In fact, it was from a too sudden "cooling off" while 
over-heated from dancing that he contracted an illness from 
which he died. He alone, without any authority superior to 
the Nova Scotian council, planned (with the astute Judge Norris, 
of Massachusetts) the atrocity of the Acadian Expulsion. It 
speaks much of his military capacity by the fact that the whole 
intricate campaign of the Acadian Deportation was nearly 



THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 



effected without the almost matchlessly cunning and politically 
dishonest hierarchy centralized at Quebec knowing any- 
thing about it. There is sufficient evidence to show that he 
divided much of the huge Acadian spoils with political favorites. 



MOISE DERNIER. 
Small, alert, wiry, swarthy, weaselish in actions, speaking 
poor French and worse English concurrently with excessive 
gesticulation and exclamations. Acadian messenger and inter- 
preter between the official French and English officers. He has 
a hairy appearance, with attire that is bizarre, gay and dirty. 



LIEUT. GOV. MASCARENE. 
A splendid and handsome personality, engaging in manner, 
suave, benevolent and always smilingly serene, an official loved 
by the English and French alike ; his administration was honest 
and liberal and sane. His was the only solution of the Acadian 
political problem, and had his superiors been as wise and just 
as he, the infamous suffering of the poor, misguided Acadians 
could easily have been averted. Costume civil. 



MARY NORRIS. 
A Hamletish heroine whose character is discovered in the play. 



CAPT. MURRAY. 
He attended the Acadian death trap at Fort Edward on the 
Pizaquid (spelled a half dozen ways) now Windsor, Nova Scotia, 
and his record is only a pen point of history. He was tem- 
pestuous but taciturn, a bushy looking, grayish red-faced, large 
boned Irishman, able and enjoying to an unusual degree the 
confidence of his American superiors. His one sore spot was 
the contempt and haughtiness of the English officers and the 
railery of the regular soldiers as to the valor of the short-termed 
American militia. 



CAPT. HANDIFIELD. 
This young, ill-dressed and uneasy mannered officer watched 
the trap at Annapolis Royal, where he was unsuccessful. He is 
tall, narrow shouldered, hollow-eyed, and brazen at times in 
his very bashfulness while in the company of superior officers. 



JUDGE NORRIS. 
This character baffles historical research, but it is known 
that he had the most intimate relations with some of the highest 
officials in America. He is represented here as one-eyed, very 
portly and well groomed, white-faced and bald, sleek, plausibly 
candid with the cunning of Beelzebub. His detail map to entrap 
the unsuspecting neutrals on Nova Scotia's Black Friday, — 
September 5th, 1755, "was the most atrocious snare over which 
a human tiger ever bent his malignant brain." History is cer- 
tain and definite in only two of his infamous endeavors, the 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 



stealing of the Acadian boats and fire arms under the guise of 
friendship and hospitality, and the corraling of the devil-driven 
Acadians. His record before and after the summer months of 
1755, so far as ascertained, — where born, where he died — is 
"Mute as a half fused epitaph in a deserted hell !" 



ACADIAN CHARACTERISTICS 



The Acadians were ambitionless in everything except religion, 
in that as unreasoning and bigoted as serfs. Ethically unil- 
lumined, spiritually short-visioned, few rose to higher flights 
than belly ideals. Not to obey a priest was almost unthinkable, 
to speak ill of the bishop a crime, and an infidel among them was 
a monster unknown. They bickered much over land lines, for 
their titles were uncertain, resting in alien lords, whose owner- 
ship was not recognized in English law. Excepting the Quakers, 
no other people that ever lived had less war blood in their 
arteries, and none other had as little of the half divine discon- 
tent in their souls. They loved peace so degenerately that they 
would not fight for it, and having no land titles patriotism was 
an emotion unknown. 

They were an excrescence of faithless politics, and, prolific as 
rabbits, they soon became a numerous but denationalized people. 
It may be said there was no fear so terrible with them as 
the ecclesiastical lightnings except that of death itself, and an 
infamous missionary priest like La Loutre — the Aaron Burr of 
Nova Scotian French — was stronger than an English battalion. 
Though the French governors of Louisberg and Quebec were 
guilty of the most flagrant duplicity and governmental bad faith 
and dishonesty, there was a similar duplicity, a more ruthless 
dishonesty and an inexcusable greed throughout the whole lat- 
ter course of administration of the English governors and their 
subordinates, excepting Mascarene alone. And the final act of 
the English in the Acadian Expulsion was a political error that 
shocked and still shocks the entire civilized world. In truth the 
moral and political standards of that age were shamefully low, 
and it should not be doubted at all that the Acadians themselves 
were as a people far superior in uprightness to the mother 
country that deserted them in their hours of misfortune or to 
the English who ambushed and assassinated the unprotected 
Acadian nation of more than ten thousand souls. 

The Acadians had no schools, no books, no beggars, no bast- 
ards, no jails, no drunkards and no drones. There was never 
a pauper among them, and the Gaulthiers and the LeBlancs were 
worth each more than a quarter of a million dollars. Nearly 
all were so illiterate that they could not read, and the record 
shows that few could write their names. They were vivacious, 
good talkers, and loved ballads and songs and simple tales. They 
were extremely prolific, reasonably industrious, foolishly stub- 



THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 



born, kind-hearted and affectionate, loved bright attire, and had 
their frolics, their simple sports and holidays. Their religion 
was cut and dried, and only a few individuals towered above the 
peasant soul. 

They had no sovereign, no titles, no progress, no law, and 
being neutral in politics, maphroditic in fealty, they inevitably 
became administrative grist and graft between two irreconcilable . 
and bloody religious creeds. 

They had swine, poultry, many horses and large herds of 
cattle. They raised flax for their linens, sheep for their woolens, 
and most families had an abundance of sometimes fine furs for 
protection from the often intensely rigorous winter storms. 
They had flouring mills, saw mills, blacksmith shops, and 
many ships that did a' considerable coastwise trade. Their prin- 
cipal markets were at Louisberg and Quebec, selling as little to 
the English as they could. It was not uncommon for some of 
their vessels to journey to Martinique, and even so far away as 
France. 

Their food was coarse, plentiful and little varied, fruit abund- 
ant, some of the best varieties of our apples, as the Jeanneton and 
the Bellefleur and others originating in the sunny Acadian val- 
leys. After the French occupation of Acadia for one hundred 
and fifty years little more than three hundred and fifty acres 
were cleared for farming. They would not chop and hew and 
burn unless compelled by stern requirement. They did not know 
how, and they did not want to learn. Nearly all the settlers 
came from the dyked marsh lands of Rochelle France, where 
their clumsy shovels had dammed out the "wildest bay in the 
world" ; here again their dykes held back the "crazy Bay of 
Fundy," sometimes with a tide sixty feet high. They were 
skillful in fishing, boating and muck farming; they were fair 
trappers in some parts, poor marksmen everywhere, splendid 
boatmen, expert human water rats, and they could not invent at 
all. Their farming tools were of the same crude character as 
those used in Palestine in early Bible times. Their dwellings 
were rude, poor and usually thatched with swamp grass, but 
there were some good houses among them, roofed with "shakes" 
and shielded with sawed lumber. It is said that there were many 
whitewashed cottages, surrounded with Old World flowers. A 
well-built church was the heart of every settlement. 

No dark-eyed daughter in those garden fields snatched from 
the mighty tidal seas might wed till she could weave a pair of 
linen sheets, and no lover might take the weaver to wife till he 
could build himself a pair of solid wooden wheels and was rich 
enough to have a black ox or two for the ungainly pole. The 
newly wedded pair, sometimes married at fourteen years of age, 
went to housekeeping with the numerous presents of their rela- 
tives and friends. These may have been some poultry, a pair of 
oars, a cow, a horse, a net, a boat, furs or linen, a casque of rum 
or wine, and perhaps a spinning wheel, perhaps often a loom. A 
houseful of children was the result of nearly every wedlock. 

A "proscript" was a legal outlaw, proscribed and publicly 
branded, somewhat as a fugitive slave, against whom a penalty 
of $250 was placed by Governor Shirley, the Commander in Gen- 
eral of the Colonial forces at the time, because the penalized had 
given aid to the French invasion across Nova Scotia in 1744-48. 



CURTAIN SCENE 



RIGHT, Minas Basin leading around Cape Blomidon, red-faced 
cliff 200 feet high, into Bay of Fundy, (unseen) ; dim sentinel 
mountains across the blue waters of the Basin to the E. N. E. 

LOWER CENTER, broad, yellow wheat fields and meadows 
through which are seen dykes covered with willows and ditches 
with flood gates on them. Cattle and sheep grazing in small 
meadows; top extends to faintly outlined forest on N. 

CENTER AND LEFT, Grand Pre', one long street of low 
white-washed, log and adz-hewn houses and grass-thatched huts. 
To left church, mission house, and blacksmith's shop. Ox carts, 
scythe, pigeon houses, stretched hides on buildings, nets hung on 
reels, boats, fowls, dogs, oars standing against house, etc. 

Summer sunset-burst in red and yellow floods down on the 
scene from mighty forest bluff on the extreme Left. (Acadia, 
Nova Scotia, 1755. Summer.) 



THE 



ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 



DRAMATIS PEBSONAE 

Henri Gautier Jules Leblanc, the proscript. 

MmE. Lebeanc Mother. 

Reni Leblanc Father. 

Jean Lebeanc Henri's sister. 

Renie Lebeanc Brother. 

Father Landry Priest at Grand Pre'. 

MoisE Dernier French courier, interpreter. 

General Moncton English officer. 

General Winslow American officer. 

Captain Murray Colonial officer. 

Captain Handieield " " 

Admiral Boscawen English Naval Officer. 

Davey Colonial scout, ranger. 

Colonel Mascarene Lieut. Gov. Nova Scotia. 

General Lawrence Tyrant of Nova Scotia. Governor. 

Judge Norris American lawyer in employ of 

Lawrence. 

Mary Norris Daughter of Judge Norris. 

(Soldiers, horses, Acadian women, men and children, dogs. 
Summer of 1755; Acadia, Nova Scotia.) 



R — right of stage. 

L— left. 

C — center. 

F— front. 

D — door. 

E — Entrance, numbered. 



THE 

ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 



GRAND PRE 



ACT I. 

SCENE I. 

(Street scene, Grand Pre'. Summer evening. Acadian church 
from 3d L. E. to R. C. rear, with bell, one open window and 
door seen. Willows to left and Lombardy poplars to right of 
church door. Leblanc's house to R. 3d E. with alley beyond 
extending to R. C. with low stone fence of yard. Low rude 
houses R. to rear. Benches on each side of house door, stump 
seat near bench. Ox cart with shovels, forks and spades in it, 
pelts drying on house, bird cote on house, dog kennel, cider 
barrels on trestles by stone fence. Huge willow with public well 
and trough, L. Mission house (Priest's residence) seen through 
willows (L. C. 2d to 3d E.) door open. At rise, harvesters 
seen passing from alley behind house down street to exit behind 
church. Men, maids and elderly women, all in Acadian cos- 
tume. Some singing. Leblanc, patriarchal, in reverie on crutch, 
and aged wife, knitting, seated on stump and he on bench by 
house door. Sun just setting.) 



REni 

Where is Jean, dear? 
Mme. Leblanc 

Went to meet Gautier's ship from Martinique. Only 
one boat, Robichord's, had time to get in on the tide. 
She expects to hear from Jules. (Three old women 
enter, unseen by Leblanc, chatter in old French, half 
heard, unnoticed by Leblanc. Old ladies idle, sit on 
bench. 
Rent (suddenly turning to women) 

What's that? A hundred soldiers from Halifax at 
Fort Edward at noon, may be here to-night? I do not 
like the smell of that. On a picnic ! The cut throat vil- 
lians, that is another scheme to trouble us. 

(Hobbles wrathfully around, is calmed 
(by wife. Sits, dreams again. Renie, 
(son, young, bounds over stone fence 
(swinging a scarlet cloak. 



THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 



Renie L. (son) 

Oh me, oh my, oh ma! (Rushes up to mother.) The 
most heautiful thing in the world. 

(Father silently rages at cloak's color. 
(Renie struts with cloak. Jean Leblanc 
(appears beyond stone fence with three 
(other lasses. Dressed gaily. They are 
(singing, then enter. 
Jean 

Brother Jules will be in on the morning tide. No, at 
midnight, I mean. He sent the cloak by the first boats. 
He was busy and forgot till the tide was run out. 

(She sits by father, hands locked over 
(liis knee. Other girls chase Renie. 
(Father Landry seen coming down 
(street from rear to front. Loving 
(greetings. Suddenly the Angclus. Rev- 
(erent silence. Omncs exeunt to church. 

SCENE II. 

(English captain with soldiers, travel worn, enter (R. 3d E.) 
file extending back beyond adjacent building. Break ranks, sit 
under willow, yawn, drink at well, etc., except Captain and 
Davey.) 

Captain 

We heard the pope's tongue and here is his stomach. 
(Points to church.) Now's the time to learn your 
nosey French. Who among you knows the grunt lan- 
guage, eh? You, Davey? Steal up there and hear them 
plotting against the English in their prayers. Better 
take off that coon skin crown of yours for if they get 
a squint at you through the chinks they might think you 
the devil. 

(Davey creeps up to church and listens. 
(Music in minors, very plaintive and 
(sweet. Father Landry's voice is heard, 
(talking old French. 
Ah ! Ah ! Davey, what do you hear ? Better sneak in 
and swing the fire box for the priest. 

(Davey returns, subdued. Some of the 
(soldiers crowd around him, question- 
ing ly. 
What did the old he devil say, eh? 

Davey 

He preaches submission, patience. Said men were all 
brothers and they should bear burdens becomingly. He 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 3 

said that the English do not understand them, much else 
I can't remember. I felt like a wolf peeping through 
a sheepfold fence. 

Captain 

Davey will have a Neutral squaw wife yet. (Soldiers 
laugh.) He's half French already. Did he say any- 
thing about us at Halifax? 

Davey 

Yes; he seems to know all about our coming, but he's 
all at sea, what we are up to. 

Captain 

Ah, that's good. We are on a picnic and we want 
to pick. (Winks.) 

(Acadians come out of church, seem 
(scared, assured by Father Landry. 
(Soldiers rise. Captain and Davey ap- 
(proach and greet the priest. 

SCENE III. 
Captain 

My soldiers have been on an excursion to the posts 
to-day, Father, and we want to rest here to-night. Can 
you sup us, lodge us, say, two to a house? We will pay 
you well for hospitality. 
Fk. Landry 

We want no pay. We will rest you, sup you, such 
as we have. ' 

(Priest calls out various names of his 
(parishioners who each take two sol- 
(diers. Apparently ioo soldiers. At 
(last all are gone except Fr. L. and 
(Rcni Leblanc. Sit. 



Reni 
Fr. L. 

Reni 



What deep scheme is this, Father? 

I do not know, it somewhat troubles me, though they 
spoke fair. 

There's deviltry in the wind. An English soldier fol- 
lows bloody ruts. If he gets out, he locks arms with 
the devil. We canot trust this Governor Lawrence 
down at Halifax. 

(Fr. L. paces back and forth restlessly. 

(Sharply eyed by Rcni. Then in a 

(monotone as if talking partly to him- 

(self: 



Fr. L. 



Reni 



Fr. L. 



Reni 



THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 



I teach the brotherhood of man, yet force and blood 
rule the world. I do not understand. The Fathers at 
Louisberg and Quebec say beware ! I learn of secret 
movements, strange actions of soldiers, — what does this 
mean? What is the meaning of it all? Father La 
Loutre says "Beware !" yet even he cannot unravel it. 
(Turning suddenly to Reni, plaintively) Reni, let us 
trust in God. He cannot desert us whatever may come. 
Submission — if thy enemy smite thy cheek — 

Then turn the other cheek and let your enemy whack 
you on that. Cravens do that. No; (jumping up, 
fiercely hobbling around) fight, fight, that is the law of 
nature. (Brandishing his crutch.) If the wild beast 
spring at me I shoot to kill. Do not the stronger kill 
the weaker all through nature? Even song birds fight 
at mating time to the death. Ah ! Father, nature is full 
of horns and teeth and tusks and stings and talons. 



Yes, nature is full, as you say, of horns, fangs, stings, 
talons, but so is nature full of motherhood. What is 
motherhood? What is love? Are these not the answer 
to all our doubts? (Sits.) 

Motherhood? Teeth and fangs and talons that she 
may raise to bloody strength other teeth, and stings 
and fangs and talons. Love may answer all, Father, 
may answer all, — in paradise. 

(Hobbles around in wrath. Furtively 
(watched by Landry. Sits on bench 
(by house, red-faced and perspiring. 

Fr. L. (rising) 

Ah ! Reni brooding much against the English and at 
things no human hand can help has addled thy kindly 
blood. We must hope for the best. Keep your doubts 
from others, let us do the best that lies within us and 
trust to God for guidance and safety. It is getting 
late, Reni, I will go. Good-night. (Exit through wil- 
lows to mission.) 

Reni 

Submission ! That means, allow the English to rob 
me. Patience? Standing idly while I am wronged. 
(Reverie.) The lights are all out, it must be mid- 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 5 

night, I cannot see the way, the end. (Reverie, lights 
slowly extinguished.) All the Fathers say "Beware!" 

(Rises, pantomime, anger, zvrath, doubt, 
(fear, despair. Goes to his house steps, 
(stops, hesitates, shakes crutch at 
(the silent street, goes half zvay in door, 
(returns and shakes fist down the silent 
(dimly seen street. Exit in house. 

SCENE IV. 

(Street scene as before but shadowy. Soldiers seen stealing 
along houses carrying guns. Gather stealthily around their cap- 
tain, whispering, excited, disheveled, breathless. 

1st Soldier 

See, here is a handful of their beads. (Tears them 
in twain.) These are the things they count their lies 
with. 
2d. S. (With three guns and a pistol in his arms.) 

I made a catch, the best of this midnight picnic. 
(Laughs.) 
DavEy (Coming out of Leblanc's house.) 

I broke the locks of several old man killers near the 
garden there. I waited an hour for that old long hair to 
go to sleep. (Points to Leblanc's house.) I think he's 
cracked at the top. I found a red silk cloak, a little lad 
had it in his clutch as he slept. When I'd pull he'd 
clutch it while sound asleep. I'd wait and then pull a 
little more, and he'd clutch again. Well, I got a little 
more each time but I think it was an hour before I got 
it. As I paused at the door, looking back the little imp 
raised up and clutched around in the dark and cried. 

(Soldiers examine cloak, laughing. Arc 
(joined by others with other guns. 
(Faint commotion seen at lower end of 
(street. 

Yes; as I left him, — I can see him yet as he screwed 
up his little face and cried. 
A Soldier 

Give the coat to me, Davey, for my little boy down 
at Salem. 

Another S. 

Let me have it for the General's new son down at 
Marshfield. 

(Soldiers discovered by Acadians. Wild 
(escape. Renie L. comes rushing out in 



Reni L. 



Henri 



Reni 



THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 

(his night robe weeping. Davey hides 
(by kennel and as Renie runs past 
(catches him and quickly fastens cloak 
(around him. Kisses him and flees. 

Je vous remercie — God. (Rushes in house.) 

(Jules Lcblanc — Henri Gauthicr, the 
(proscript, rushes in followed by Acad- 
(ians. Great commotion and excite- 
(mcnt. Henri pursues and returns. 

Fools, Fools ! They have stolen your boats and guns. 
(Reni L. comes ragingly hobbling out 
(of house. Strides up to son. 

Take after them, bring them back. (Shouts and 
cries of rage. (Pursuit continues and only father and 
son left together.) Why do you not follow those 
thieves, follow them to the very gates of Halifax? You 
seem to love that treacherous spot. 



Henri 



Father ! 



Reni 

Answer me. 
Henri (Hesitatingly) 

Father — I — 
Reni 

Answer me. 



Henri 



Father ! 



(Pause.) Is a Delilah there? 



Is a she devil, Delilah there? (Fiercely.) 
(Father sees guilt in son's attitude and 
(folds his head in arms as if stricken. 



(Curtain.) 



tt^r 



SETTING THE SNARE 

ACT II. 

(Governor's House, Halifax, N. S., 1755. Huge, dark, rude, 
illy furnished ; yawning fireplace at back, mantle above with 
lighted candle to right. Door R. rear. Alcove with balcony 
on right, window at back, portieres (skins) before alcove door, 
steps. Grand Entrance, corner L. rear. Standards and Eng- 
land's arms above fireplace inscribed, 

"GOVERNOR'S HOUSE, HALIFAX, N. S., MDCCXLIX, GEORGE II REX." 

Set prison shows on L., with wicket entrance to door, barred 
window. Dais with table and governor's chair front, chair R. 
of table. 

Night, storm impending, lightnings reveal distant mountains 
through open Grand Entrance. Lights down. Judge Norris dis- 
covered at rise with goose quill pen poring over map at table. 



Norris 



SCENE I. 

Here every road and trail I mark in red, — 

The Shubencadie water route divides 

The ambushed forest from the garden patches — 

A Micmac vein of instigated murders 

That runs with blood of English citizens ; 

The right to Cobequid — a hundred families ; 

The other to Fort Edward — Pizaquid — 

(A treacherous tide to jerk an anchor out 

Or batter in a transport's hull). Let's see! 

Ah ! Here's a forest trail to Pizaquid 

(That's where the limestone mines are dug, I'm told) 

Prowled over by those devil doing Micmacs. 

Mark! Ugh! Halifax route to Murray. Well! 

There winding westward 'round the Basin edges, 

The Up and Lower Trails that lead to Grand Pre' — 

(Distant thunder, he stops, listens. 

'Cross Gaspereau, Cannard and Habitant — 

Those ferries trouble me ; mark : two thousand families. 

Oh damn their venery, they breed like minks ; — 

'Twill take least half the stinking sloops of Boston 

To dump these alien herds per two a ton 

In our Colonial pens. Huh ! we'll catch them first. 

There Winslow goes with his three companies 

To gather up these black maned heretics, — 

At Grand Pre', paradise for world lost peasants ! 

(Occasional sheet lightning, storm get- 

(ting closer. 



8 THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 

Cobequid to Tatamagousche, a trail 

I'll mark it with some double daggers, umph ! 

Dernier who knows the country like a book 

Relates a perfect garden blooms around 

The Minas Basin, — cattle, horses, hogs, 

And barns aburst with grain, and orchards, — 

The windfalls cover the ground four deep ! 

Bellefleur, Jeanettons, the Pride of Normandie 

Lord! Lord! 

(Fierce lightnings, occasional thunder. 
That ten league boundary road, Bay Verte ! 
On these eight rivers of the Chegnectou, 
Ha ! ha ! I've learned to fling their nosey names 
As if I had a Neutral womb, — I think 
We'll have a lot of fighting French. 
Loutre, religious wolf, empoisons them. 
He's got the cunning of Beelzebub, 
And if he gets a hint he'll herd them off, 
The cattle, grain, the whole possessions — ah ! 

(Startled meditation, half rises. 
And cut the dykes and make a swamp of all ! 
I'll put a run of daggers like a wall 
Across this Bay Verte trail, mark! for Lawrence. 
There's a racial fester point of settlement 
Beyond the Misaguesche, the Beau Sejour, — 
Ah ! that black wolf has only one design ; 

(Rises, with map in hand, crosses to 

(Grand Entrance and looks out. Comes 

(down L. C. front. 
Only design, — to start the Gallic germ 
Of land greed 'mong these fatwit wolverines, — (Sits.) 

(Governor Lawrence appears at door R. 

(rear. Listens, rain begins to pour. 

(Norris looking at map. 
To gorge at last on our New England pudding. 
They steal the bait of all our traps and snares 
And do not leave a pinch of hide to show it. 

(Holds map aloft. 
Never before was drawn a map like this ! 

(Lawrence suddenly enters. Hangs 

(cloak on alcove wall. 

SCENE II. 

(Scene same) 

Lawrence 

And may it please the Court I heard just now 
A most judicial voice that spoke of pudding. 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 9 

What! pudding? English pudding, raisins in? 

And Cognac sauce? Then wash it down with rum? 

With rum from Martinique, and then a pipe? 

(Takes Governor's chair, to right of 
(table. 

And that's why Judge, Old England rules the world. 

( Takes map from N orris and scrutinizes 
(it. Sharp thunder crack. He rises, 
(crosses to Grand E., looks out, closes 
(door and snuffs candle on mantle, re- 
turns to his chair. N orris now seated 
(opposite. 

A storm is on to-night, my learned friend, 

Huh! Heaven's cracked in twain. How go your maps? 

(Storm has set in with steady Herce- 
(ness. Norris nervous, but with cat-like 
(tread, is pacing from R. to L. front. At 
(prison window, looks in. Shakes bars 
(as if to test their security. 
Norris (peering in prison) 

Wretched ! Like this, too many holes of refuge, 
Quebec, St. Jean, and Louisberg, and trails 
Loopholes and highways, Indians, guns and French 
Upon the Misaguesche — 

Lawrence 

I whipped them once, 
Up there in that official corner, damn 'em ! 
And General Moncton ere another moon, 
With his three hundred regulars, but broidered 
With least three thousand ragged Shirley scrubs, — 
How he despises them ! will clean that neck 
And then ship down and help us snare these fish — 
Mud cats that wallow in their stinking fiats 
Around the Minas Basin ; such a string ! — 
The world will wonder for a thousand years. 

(Norris crosses to his chair, sits. Law- 
rence rises and walks to candle, snuffs 
(it, opens door of Grand E., looks out. 
(Lightning shows high wind shaking an 
(elm at the door. Comes down L. C. 
(stands by his chair. 
Ah ! this four headed fork of war campaign, 
Champlain, Oswego, Quebec and Duquesne — 
Will sweep this country clean of racial rubbish, 
That's rotted in our cradle all too long! 



10 THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 



NORRIS 



They have some French up there upon the Neck. 
A different breed of cattle; they will fight. 



Lawrence (Sits) 

Our fort up there's the sesame. They fight? 
Perhaps, perhaps, the devil only knows. (Rises.) 

(Paces L. to R. front. 
They've grown a length of deviltry and daring 
Against the English crown for forty years. 
They're shifty rascals with these backdoor routes 
To all the legal French dominions, Judge ; 
They give in war times comfort to the enemy 
With stock and fruit and grain since good Queen Ann. 
We beg and fight to get enough to eat, 
While all the surplus fat flies through at night 
That Bay Verte secret route to Louisberg ; 
While Quebec sends her ablest tonsured spies — 
To stir these Neutral devils to distrust. 
You know as well as I their nasty history, — 
It makes my blood boil up to think of it. 
They pay no tax, nor aid, nor run, but stay 
Like ticks upon the body of a lamb 
Nor care a tinker's damn for all our threats. 

Norris (Rises excitedly and follows Lawrence) 
And blue coat prisoners on Rouse's ships 
Say Louisberg has raised her scalp rewards ; 
That they have seen but four days since scalp locks, — 

(Indicates length of a yard. 

Lawrence (Both at extreme C. front.) 

Women by God! And has it come to that? 
These nations play at peace and friendship 
While Braddock with two thousand regulars 
Is marching on Duquesne. He'll chase them out 
But we'll catch ours ! 

(Hoarse whispet in Norris' ear last 
(line. They go in alcove and take wine. 
(The rear door opens stealthily and 
(Henri Gauticr, disguised, appears; lis- 
(tcning at alcove window in rear. Both 
(sit. Tankard on table, lighted candle, 
(glasses. 



Norris (cautiously) 



But yet the London Board ? 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY n 

Lawrence (boisterously) 

Oh ! damn your London Board. They're hares or worse. 

Old Robinson is smoother than metheglin. 

One needs to read between his peaceful lines. 

He dares not write direct their wants for fear — 

The cost may spoil the flavor of the fruit. 
(Drinks greedily. 

Ah ! indecision in a minister 

Waits on misfortune and oblivion. 

There's difference wide as here to hell between 

Delayed pursuit and full possession, Judge. 
Norris (sips daintily) 

From here to hell? Perhaps we'll cover it 

Quickly enough the pace we're going now. 

Lawrence 

Bah! Hide your law books if you're making history; 
The law comes after, we are precedents. 
I damn these grunt nose gabblers, A to zed, 
I damn them for the other friends they've got ; 
I damn them for the friends they seem to be. 
They are a poisonous thorn in England's side 
That's festered there for forty troubled years, 
Against our laws, religion, English pride, 
The honor of ambitious men like Phillips. 

(He rises in rage. Henri who has 
(retired from view appears again. 
I'll root them out, I spill and scatter them 
To an.v corner of God's world. Your map! (Sits.) 
Let's see your cursed map. , 

(Rushes out and gets map. Returns, 
(both seated poring over map. Dumb 
(play by Henri. 

Your roads, — red vipers ! 
Norms 

A nest of vipers that they wriggle through. 
Lawrence 

Cornwallis showed that fearful cabinet 
The way to raise these stingy rascals out, — 
To flank them with a colonizing wedge. 
Yet Lord ! Here builded in a rocky hell ! 

(Throws map dozen violently, rises, then 
(clutches it. Both drink again and go 
(out to dais and sit. 
If he depended on this place to victual him 



12 THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 

He'd dine on stone, pine needles, Micmac peas, 

Ah ! that's a ration no one loves to take, 

With fog and rocks and rocks and fog for pudding; 

A nerveless cabinet for pipe and sword 

And double meaning letters for my dreams. 

{Looks at crumpled map. Henri sneaks 

{into alcove. 
These daggers few or more you've stabbed your map with. 

Norris 

Why soldiers placed to net the flying chatties. 

Lawrence 

The beaters of the bush ! Ah ha ! Urn ! 
These spots of blood? 
Norris 

Acadian churches burned. 
{Lawrence seems in a reverie. Starts. 

Lawrence 

A dream I had ! It seemed I were awake. 
I shudder but to think of it! These digits? 

Norris 

They're two a ton for Governor Shirley's ships 

{Lawrence jumps up startled. 

Lawrence 

Sh ! Hold ! For God's sake are you auctioneer 
Of our deep plans? 

{Goes to Grand E., opens door and 

{looks out furtively. Storm still rages; 

{rain and lightning. 

Those voices in the wind! 
This starved elm out here does swing her arms 
Like a mad witch. 

{Slams door, holds it shut defiantly, 

{then comes back to Norris. 
Ah ! Norris ! Such a storm ! 
The mocking winds cry down our mudstick chimneys 
And laugh and gurgle at our log-house chinks — 
A storm like this unpurposes. 

{Sits on bench, left front. 

Norris 

Yes, governor ! 
To-morrow comes those hundred deputies. 
What do you purpose? 

Lawrence {in reverie) 

To have a tusky hag with green cat eyes 

Play hide and seek with one through all the night. 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 13 

Over the footrail, sniffing now and then 
And looking at her grisly talons — "Peep !" 
She'd squawk, her cat eyes on me gleamingly; 
"Wake Lawrence, Lawrence, it is raining blood ! 
Wake Lawrence, Lawrence ! it is raining blood." 
Norris (infected with fear) 

We do not care for dreams. Last night — myself — 

Lawrence 

Ah Norris, Norris! Tell it, tell it me. 

(Henri listening within alcove. 
Norris 

I saw a lengthwise striped tiger, faugh ! 

With a man's head on, dancing with a lamb. 

Why striped lengthwise? Tell me that. A lamb? 

I laugh at that. A superstitious fool 

Interpreting in ancient times — for kings — 
( Walks nervously. 
Lawrence (Fierce vigor) 

The head ! The face ! the striped tiger's face 

Had it a human look, or tongue — or — such? 

Norris 

I do not wish to speak — I mean — I saw — 
That is not clearly. 

Lawrence 

Tell me, was it I? 

Norris 

Upon the Book, 'twas not, — myself, ha, ha, ha ! 

Lawrence 

With goose quill on your legal ear. (Laughs.) 

Norris 

Faugh ! Faugh ! 

Lawrence 

And did you eat your gentle partner up? 

(Feigned hilarity of both. 
A minuet ! A tiger with a lamb ! 
Ah, what a dance was that my countryman. 

(Laughs nervously; Henri steals out, 

(leaving door open. 
Sh ! Did you hear that, Judge ? 

(Both listen. 

Norris (Sourly) 

I heard no noise. 

Lawrence 

By all the gods, a creaking boot! That's French. 
(Looks everywhere. 



14 THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 

Norris (acridly) 

The creaking of your brain. Perhaps your hag 
Is perching on your witchtree like an owl 
Hooting calamity and bloody rain. 

(Storm has about passed. 

Lawrence 

Or calling out cotillion turns to you, 

A lengthwise striped tiger with a lamb ! 

(Loud laugh by Lawrence suddenly 
(checked as a pair of bats flicker 
(through the room. Continuous sharp 
(lightning of receding storm. No thun- 
(der. Door open, candle flares. 

What ails the candle light? Those damned imps 

Are bringing evil. See them ! Candle snuffers ! 

You witches' messengers, you hell-birds, out ! 

(Strikes at them, chases them, knocks 
(candle off mantle. Lights out. Strange 
(sounds, (made by Norris). Final 
(sharp thunder crack. Lawrence grop- 
ing in darkness. 

Help, Norris, Norris! Are you there? Ough ! Ough ! 

She strikes at my neck! She clutches at my throat! 

(Lights up slozvly. Laivrcnce seen re- 
covering from a paroxism of fear. Nor- 
ris relights candle and places it on 
(table. Lights on full. 

The storm is full — is full— of ugly spirits, 

As if the lightning scorched them out their holes. 

Let's out of this— let's out of this ! My coat ! 

(The candle sputters a moment or two 
(and light sinks lozv. Lights low. 

The candle! (shouts) Sick of this dismal hole 

As I am — every turn is faced with danger. 

'Twas soon unbearable to those before us. 

Those hell-birds, where have they gone? Candle's out! 

( Screams. ) 
(Norris hastily brings lighted candle 
(from the alcove. Tries to appear calm. 

Norris (Ready to go) 

Why stay? What gain? What good? What honor here? 
(Lawrence crosses to 3d E. L. ready to 
(go out. Norris fastens doors and win- 
(doivs ready to blozv out light. 

Lawrence (Restless at door L) 

To do what others failed in; getting salvage 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 



IS 



Perhaps along the legal precipices — 
So rich — enough to still the moral clamor 
By fair division with New England friends. (Harsh 
laugh.) 

Norris (Blowing out light) 

And make the record sweeter than the deed. {Exeunt.) 

(Henri enters at rear door, relights can- 
(dlc and looks out window L. 



Henri 



Morris 



Hell cannot vomit up a pair like this ! 
You vile conspirators ! 

(Sudden bright flash of lightning. 
Ha ! a petticoat ! 
She watches them. Ah ! that's a witch not counted. 

(Sound of approaching footsteps. He 

(hides in prison. Norris re-enters,— 

(stares at candle. 

How comes that candle lighted now? Forgot? 
As sure as hell is packed four deep with Jews 
I snuffed that dip ; and now it's lit ! 

( Whistles softly and stares. Scats h'un- 

(sclf at table and picks up map. 
I'll finish this. He's set my nerves on edge. 
If I were sure the London Board's assent — 
Authority rests with it not Lawrence, — I 
What's that? 

(Henri makes screech owl's cry. Norris 

(jumps up. 
I cannot work to-night. That candle ! 

(Stands in deep thought C. front staring 

(at floor. 

SCENE II. 



Mary 



Booh! 



Father 



(Mary Norris enters slyly L. and springs 
(at her father. Lights on full. 



Christus, daughter, how you startled me ! 
What do you want ? Why maunder 'round this hour ? 
It's ten o'clock at least. It's raining cats ! 

(She casts cloak on chair; sit opposite 

(at table. 



16 THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 

Mary 

So late as that ? Ah ! that's not late for cats. 

I wondered what could keep my father here. 

I heard the governor thundering through the stumps, 

After you left him, I was by the elm — 

Father 

And did he see you? {Caresses her hand, etc.) 

Mary 

No; he ran too fast. {Both laugh.) 
I fear he's broken through the palisade. {Laughing.) 
I hear a hundred deputies are coming, 
What's in the air? Can you not trust me, father? 

{Mary picks up map. 
A map? Looks like a skein a cat's got at, 
Or like a horse's mane a witch has ridden 
All night to sun-up. Faugh ! 

Father {Still petting her) 

Inquisitive ! 
Just like a turkey at a dead-fall, — ugh ! 
One would not think a maid, a Cumberland, 
Who's schooled her blood to cold reserve would traipse 
In this raw place so unseasonably. 
A woman of so much philosophy, — 
Should see a bug astride her nose at least. 

Mary 

I see far more, my father. 

Father 

Tell me what. 

Mary {withdraws her hands) 

The air aflash with Damoclean blades 
Ahang by one man's will. 

Father {recovers her hand and kisses it) 

Ah frail comparison ! 
You'd take least all the spools of Birmingham 
For such a field of swords. Who sets your feast? 

Mary 

Ten thousand Neutral souls — 

{Norris springs up aghast. 
A lady bug 
Astride my nose? I see quite well at times. 

Father 

Ten thousand souls? Is't jest or earnest, Mary? 
And have you woman-tongued it like a bell? 
Such — such — suspicions of conspiracy 
Would ruin everything. You either know — 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 17 

Mary 

Too little or too much, that's why I came. 
Is it a bug I see? 

(Father unnerved, aroused, hesitates, 
(goes into alcove, drinks quickly. She 
(sips, watching him keenly. Henri 
(makes his escape out rear door. 
Father (assumed calmness) 

You are no key hole miss, — you seem to charge 
Your father taking secret parts. This map — 
Is nothing wrong. 
Mary 

That map ! It's murderous. 
Father (rising) 

Mary, pray tell me what is in your heart. 

(She rises and puts her arms around 
(his neck. 
Mary (brokenly) 

My father, do not tell me — what — I hope 
Is not a-slumber in your own. Today — 
Father (pushing her away angrily; she sits) 

A spy might fill your heart's circumference, 
And satisfy your wicked, empty guesses. 
This Gautier that you've been smiling on — 
This double-dealing Hotspur from the herd — 
Is nothing more, perhaps a little less — 
You smile, still smile at charge like that ! 



Mary 



Father 



I smile, 
A Cumberland, grand-daughter of an earl 
That's linked to sovereigns, no key hole maid, 
Nor mistress of a spy; my mother's daughter. 
This Gautier, if beggar, spy or slave, 
Enstains me less than you with such a charge. 

This constant crooning o'er your lineage, 

To cast reflections on your new soil birth ! 

No one is royal save by deeds for good 

Of God and man. What have you done, my child, 

To merit your beloved pedigree? 

Your dear dead mother left the dolessness 

Of dukes and titled fools and clung to me. 

Her empty life grew sane with love and work, 

Nor later sought to gain more stature here 

By borrowing meal from her ancestral bins. 

One's name is glass or diamonds as they wear it. 



18 the acadian proscript 

Mary 

I'm neither gems or paste ; I'm flesh and blood, 

With woman's blind compassion for the blind, 

Fearing not man nor devil for the right. 

I came in grace to ask a filial question, 

Not peck at new and secret sores of conscience. 

(Goes to zvindow in alcove, then returns 
(and faces father. 
And when I love — if he be prince or slave, 
Ah more, were he Acadian proscript, spy, 
Angel or devil, then will I defend him 
And follow to the very depths of hell. 

Father 

A very fine speech — for seminaries, 
But daughter, truce to differences. Now — 
Accomplishment of State necessities, 
Politic acts that reach beyond sane action, 
Diplomacy of unripe ministers and such — 
Greed pettifogging with legality ; — ah well ! 
I'm charged to tend a mighty stew of state. 
These things you can not understand, my daughter. 
You — poke your nose too free in subtleties. 
This stew — I need no lady scullions — yet. 

Mary 

simplify for conscience's sake! A stew? 
Say rather human chestnuts in a fire 

And you the scullion cat's paw of a tyrant. 
Father (Jumping up, shouts) 

Renounce that word ! It is a brazen lie. 
Mary (Hissingly in liis face) 

Secret scullion to a coward tyrant ! You ! 

It's brazen truth and here is your conviction. 
(Shakes the map at him. 
Father (Snatching map) 

1 will disown you, you dishonoring child. 
Mary 

Dishonor by disheritance? You? You? 
Father ! That name already is enough 
And soon your reputation past endurance. 

(She goes slozvly out into main room 
(and casts herself in .big chair, with face 
(hidden in extended arms across table. 
(Father slozvly follows with candle and 
(map and sits in other chair, staring at 
(Iter, then at the map, in silence. Un- 
rolls it and blinks through tears. 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 19 

Father (Broken voice) 

What have I caught in this accursed map. 

(Slowly tears it up. Mary lifts face 
(from arms on table. 
Mary 

That we were back in Hingham with our friends! 
(Norris prepares to leave. 
Father (Faltcringly) 

I'm going, daughter, I — 
Mary (Rising, despairingly) 

To hell, or — Hingham? 
Father 

To Hingham, or — to hell if you will come. 
Mary 

Papa, I did not — mean — I, — my cloak, you see — 

(He holds out his arms, she glides in, 
(embrace. He releases her and goes 
(to door. Looking out tvindoiu L. 
Father 

The storm is passed. Put out the light. Be sure. 

The storm — is — passed. I'll go on slowly, dear. (Exit.) 

(Suddenly returns. 
That candle's not to be trusted, throw it out. (Exit.) 



Mary 



Mary 



Like Truth the more you snuff it out, the more it flames. 

(Picking up candle tenderly. 
I need a flame like that within — within. (Ponders.) 
One little storm is passed, a greater just begun, 
A hurricane of wrath and shame and wrong. 

(Sinks down in chair and weeps. 

SCENE IV. 

(Mary arises and fastens all the win- 
(dozvs and doors except door rear. She 
(puts on cloak and seems about to de- 
(part. There is a peculiar knock at 
(back door. She comes dozvn front 
(coldly agitated. Full light; music. 
(Knock more insistent, repeated. She 
(turns toward the door, standing at L. 
(C. front. Conflicting emotions. Knock- 
ing peculiar, once more. 

Come in. (Pause.) Come in. 

(Henri enters, throwing cloak aside and 

(advancing with delight and extended 

(hand. She puts her hands behind her. 

This is a night of ghosts. 



20 THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 

Henri 
Mary 
Henri 



Of storms and angels. (Gaily.) 

Also foolish speeches. 
And you are fuller still of wit and beauty. 



Mary 



(Secretly trying to hide evidence of 
(tears. 

I would that you were less the courtier, 
Your words more sane. What do you here? 
Henri (Sighing) 

My heart is sore with unseen evils. You — 

A star 'mong poisoned rains — the secret lightnings — 

You — Pain forgetting Joy doth leap across 

Our darkened skies, — another Helen — er ! you — 



Mary 

Henri 
Mary 
Henri 

Mary 
Henri 



Mary 



You mix your metaphors, mythology, 

Your sentiment and sense. How did you pass? 

All English pass. (Smiles knowingly.) 

And then the guard parole? 

Diplomacy, audacity and — shillings, 

Shillings ! The dreams of peasants, fools and kings. 

Are you surprised to see me here and happy? (Sits.) 

Who happy, you or I? Audacity? 

I'll turn it. I'm surprised you're here and happy. 

That makes much more for modesty and me. 

"That makes much more for modesty and me." (Repeat- 
ing.) 
You've m's enough to stock a nursery 
But not the necessary M to start one. 
Come sit with me. (Pleadingly.) 

And do you think, my friend, 
That you have m's enough for modesty? 
By what strange law of hospitality 
Your pain-forgetting joy steals in 
A place like this at such dishonored hour — 
I do not see excuse, sir (haughtily). 



Henri 



Mary 



Henri 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 21 



Diplomacy ! 
And Mary Norris, — you — your modest brow 
Could quell a mob of drunken satyrs. 
You serve a light of chastity that blinds 
And quicker halts than glint of raised swords. 

Oh patience ! More I say in earnestness 
The less you mean. Where are you? Where? 
How can one find your manhood in these husks 
Of specious flattery? 



I'm lost, 
And have been ever since I saw you first. 
Believe me this is manly earnestness. 
Without you I am lost and with you — 

Mary {Gaily) 

Then I am lost. I'll sit a moment there. 

But mark ! That light you spoke a moment since 

Would teach sobriety of words. (Sits.) Accept? 



Henri 
Mary 
Henri 
Mary 

Henri 



Not I; it is impossible. 

Any why? 

For fear my sober tongue gets honest drunk. 

O fie! I'm sick of insincerity; 
Continual blandishments disgust at last. 
I'm not a silly girl, nor yet — so very wise, 
But I do love a straight and manly speech. 

Were it not rude I'd say that your pretence 

That I am not sincere was potent proof 

Of — insincerity. I trust my eyes, 

My ears, my heart, you satisfy them all. 

You've often seen some work of Nature's gods, 

A dusk, a dawn, a thoughtful lake adream, 

A molten stairway in the even's hush 

Laid on the lambent bay to paradise; 

A stilled October noon with dropping fruits 

A-nipped to pleasant taste by gentle frosts. 

So you to me, a dusk, a dawn, a noon, 

A stairway leading on to heavenly things, 

And yet a gentle frost to ripen friendship. 



22 



THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 



Mary (Smiling seriously) 

Your tongue is musically drunk at least. 
It makes one's head run 'round to listen, sir. 
So here's my hand in promise to your praises 
For all my uselessness — I will not charge 
You insincerity for least, — a minute. 



Henri 



Mary 



Henri 



Ah what a boon that is ! And may I breathe ? 

It all depends, sir, what you're drunk on. 

(He tries to retain her hand. 
Stop! 
Now — Henri — in your pleasant words do tell 
The inner meaning of this controversy; 
This shuffling lion and the dodging hares. 
No logical embellishments will suit ; 
No tedious history or palliation ; 
I want the naked insolence of truth, 
Facts to bite out the rottenness of records, 
Whether of English or French. Now tell me. 

(Takes her half-resisting hand. 
Since you give hand to my sincerity 
I'll give you sober lips to history, 
And hope my words may be as fair as this : 

(Kisses her hand. She snatches hand 

(away rather ungcntly. 
Ah ! you will rob me of your friendly hand ? 
It would incentive me to hold me fair. 

(He rises and walks back and forth as 

(he speaks. 
It is a dull tale with no music in it; a sad tale so 
full of misconceptions of our character, our aims since 
first the English touched our lives, after the treaty of 
Utrecht, that I despair of any English mind to see 
it clearly. 

You people commenced it wrong some forty years 
ago. You first wanted our fathers to take an Oath of 
Sovereignty to your Queen Ann when our King Louis 
ceded Nova Scotia to her, a silly trade by short vis- 
ioned ministers. 

Was it in our blood to live under English protes- 
tants? Our aims, spirits, laws, pride, religion, all were 
different. How could we? 

After the war was stopped your queen wrote to the 
double dealing General Nicholson, who won the battle 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 



23 



Mary 



Henri 



Mary 



at the Port, — he misgoverned there, a most gracious 
letter. And what did she tell him? 

She wrote that if we had mind to go not to hinder 
us in selling our lands and carrying away our movables. 
That if we chose to stay he was to give us free right 
of our religion and properties just as fully as that of 
any Englishman. 

That's in your record without mutilation. Not a 
word was said about an oath of sovereignty in the 
treaty or the letter from the queen. 

Well, the French prepared to leave, many of them 
left in some parts. In the spring of 1714, the year 
after the treaty, not a seed was planted. So says Reni 
Leblanc up at Grand Pre'. He knows. 

Some agents from Louisberg came and we swore 
anew allegiance to our King. Was that not right? 
Now listen, Mary Norris, for here all the trouble 
started. 

General Nicholson, avaricious, little minded, full of 
pride, got a big salary for his little battle at Port Royal. 
This was a big territory, paid nothing to our own 
king and you know England has a greed for soil. If 
the French left, General Nicholson would have left to 
him a wild and rather naked country alive with hos- 
tile savages. The English hated the savages and killed 
them when they could. 

Why didn't the French go? We could have colon- 
ized. 

No; the English could not get colonists to come and 
settle for fear of savages ; besides they were not 
familar with the kind of farming that we do around 
the Minas Bay. 

So by all means he dared fair or foul, within the 
treaty and without it, General Nicholson prevented the 
French from leaving. He coaxed, flattered, cajoled, 
troubled and vexed in a thousand ways, seeking to hold 
us here. He would not allow them to go on English 
ships ; he forbade English merchants from buying their 
goods ; he would not allow the English to sell them sails. 

As we did not know our position as to the oath he 
sent our questions to the English Queen, then after 
many promises, left for England himself, telling us to 
await the queen's reply. 

Well, what did the queen send you? 



24 



THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 



Henri 



Mary 



Henri 



Mary 
Henri 

Mary 



Henri 



A new king suddenly came on your throne, a new- 
ministry; we were forgotten. We waited, we are 
waiting yet. Waiting after forty )troubled years. 
That's where the spread of trouble started. Some left 
it is true ; those around the Port, then called Annapolis, 
went, for they better understood the English, the lovely, 
merciful English. Succeeding Governors or their lieu- 
tenants, tried in a hundred ways to get us take a full 
oath of sovereignty. We never did except a few under 
the range of the Port cannon. We did take or give 
many oaths of fealty always with the proviso not to 
carry arms against the Indians or the outer French. 
We always had that proviso in, always, always, always. 

Why didn't you give these later governors proof? 
The English are proud, stubborn, but — just. 

We have offered the written proof many times. It is 
no use. To-morrow we will offer it to this monster 
you have here, this tiger dancing with a lamb, — Charles 
Lawrence. Mary Norris, I dare not express what is 
in my soul. I see the red torch of ruin in our Acadian 
sky. Governor Lawrence has our destiny in his tiger 
clutch. 

What will you do, my friend? 

Our Government has forsaken us ; yours hates us ; 
New England wants our land. We are Catholic French, 
that explains all. 

Ah! Why not take the unprovisoed oath? 
I'm English, I dislike your people much. 
They have no manly spirit, flag nor progress ; 
No patriot fire, no titles, law or sovereign. 
You live like Micmacs in your log-house huts ; 
Your priests within the hollow of their hands 
Hold your individual souls and destiny. 
I'd spurn religion cut and dried and measured 
Like mackeral bait the swearing fishers use 
Down there at Rouse's Lunenberg. Friend Henri, 
Be French or English, something, more or less. 

And you as blind to wrong as all the rest 
And you as deaf to Mercy's cry as he! 



Mary 
Henri 



Mary 



Henri 



Mary 
Henri 

Mary 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 25 



What have you paid for your protection? 

Protection! What pray, doth a wolf protect? 
We, foster children of a mighty nation, 
Orphaned, despised, Ishmaelitish bastards 
Of politics crying in the wilderness 
With every hand against us, even Hagar's. 

(Leaning head in hands on prison door. 
Oh God! And art Thou too forsaking us? 
Your Shirly deems himself his brother's keeper; 
With heart of flint he knows but one solution — 
A Puritan who loves the smell of blood — 
He's made the Christian plan to murder us — 
Duquesne, Oswego, Champlain and Quebec, 
These are to be the pens of slaughtered Frenchmen. 

Impossible! In God's name why not fight? 

Were I Acadian, thank God I'm not, 

Each hazel bush would have an extra shadow. 

The first man-hunting, praying protestant 

That raised my door-latch, if not proper knocked — 

Pouf ! There would be a new passover mark 

Upon my door sill. 

If English, thank God! 
I'm not, I'd burn with shame to stab a man 
A friend, when I had stolen all his weapons. 
Fight? Your father made a Christian plan; 
Your soldiers came to us as guests in June; 
Two to a house they slept; we said our beads, 
Retired; we thought a kindlier feeling come 
Of brotherhood; then when in happier dreams 
Our soldier guests arose and stole our guns 
And boats. Fight! Fight! Fight? 

Who planned? 

Your loving father's Christian, Puritan plan, 
A Christian action worthy cunning priests ! 

You hang your pictures in unwholesome lights. 
Should not the sheriff e'er disarm his prisoner? 
And are your priests not cunning? Think the trouble 
They've put us English to. I've heard them speak 
Of Daudin, Desenclaves, La Loutre, Lalerne, 



26 THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 

That murderous Micmac cat, Jean Baptiste Cope — 
My blood runs shivering but to think of him. 

Henri 

And we have hearu Of Nicholson, the traitor ! 

Vetch and Caulfield, Armstrong, Phillips, Wroth — 

Mixture of statesmen, villains, bigots, fools, — 

New England renegades with tiger brains, 

Who help a lowborn painter as he crouches 

Ready to rend this fragment of humanity 

For years forgotten in this wilderness. 

Now? Chess and wheat between the murderous stones 

Of blood dripping creeds — 

Mary (Interrupting) 

What renegades? 

Henri 

Ah ! If our priests had only taught resistance, 
We could have swept the hateful handful seaward, 
Not now to trust in Anglo-Saxon mercy — 

Mary (Interrupting) 

New England renegades! Whom do you mean? 
Step to my face and tell me eye to eye, — 
"New England renegades with tiger brains !" 

Henri (Closely facing her) 

A striped tiger dancing with a lamb; 
A human dream that sprang from tiger brains. 
That's my diplomacy. Goodnight ! Goodnight ! Goodbye ! 
(Exit 2d L. 



Mary 



Diplomacy ! Anglo-Saxon mercy ! 

New England renegades with tiger brains ! 

A striped tiger dancing with a lamb ! A spy ! 

(Curtain.) 



THE HUE AND CRY. 



ACT III 

(Scene same as Act II, set further to right only front of alcove 
shown. Dais and governor's chair placed to R. C. front. Can- 
dles on mantle and shelves, (several lit), attendants lighting 
others, placing benches, etc., in final preparation. At rise women 
appear half hidden in portieres ; General Winslow in fine regi- 
mentals pompously walking up and down L. C. ; Col. Mascarene, 
suave, dark, large, smiling, occupies governor's chair carelessly; 
Admiral Boscawen and General Moncton, arm in arm, placidly 
pacing R. to L. rear; Capt. Handifield and Murray illy dressed 
on bench L. front, talking uneasily ; Dernier, on alcove steps ; 
occasion decoration evident. Lights down.) 

SCENE I. 

Gen. M. 

(To Mascarene, crossing to R. C. front. 

Are we to wait like stable boys for hours? 

When do these Neutral deputies arrive? 
Mascarene (Smiling) 

"Let Patience wait because the time is great." 

They're in the palisade already, sir. 
Gen. M. (Sneeringly) 

Patience! A name for half digested judgment! 

Or least a lack of spinal starchiness. 

How look they, heads as high as cockerels? 
Mascarene 

Most time a sorry set by English standards, 

Though some have virtues more than other men. 

They're much like peasants having peasant souls, 

A lively lot of Robison de Crusoes, 

Most all afar from forces of the world, — 

Of books and schools, ambition, lust and gain — 

There's no half dozen rainbow tinted souls 

In all Acadia. 
Gen. M. 

Counterfeit Fridays, sir ! 

And led by Crusoes in a cowl and cross. 

Pray have they civilizing, Christian things? 

As harbors, whiskey, churches, gold lace, guns? 
Admiral Boscawen 

Ah ! guns ? We got them by a pretty prank 

In June — Judge Norris's plan. Ah ! there's a man 

Could give Old Nick "blue devils" making snares. 

He's made a map that's drawn to such a 6cale 



28 THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 

A Neutral cannot fill his pipe but Norris 

Citing his map can tell his middle name. 

Each perch or stall or room or farm or trail 

Is charted, mapped and pedigreed. 

"It's like a geometric spider's lair 

With Norris in the center hanging there 

Alert to spring at any touch." 

Gen. M. 

Urn! Urn! 
But what defenses can they make to us? 
Suppose the spider wants to make a catch? 

MascarEne (Rising) 

They do not fight or carry arms. It's hard 
For us to credit them their honest worth — 
So much unlike us in their moral mix-up 
Their villanies so different from ours. 

Gen. W. 

(Joining Mascarcne, etc. 
Where is the real boundary, the Shediac? 
Bay Verte? The Misaguesche? Or where? Who knows? 

Mascarene 

The devil only knows. That makes much trouble. 

The isthmus poisons all Acadia. 

From there the priests allure with promises, 

Or threats the interdictions of the church ; 

And with Quebec or Louisberg, or both 

Bribing a few in many devious ways, 

Foment a tense dislike to English interests. 

As soon a leopard change his spots and fangs 

As these French leopards change their fangs and spots. 

But 'round about the Minas Basin blooms 

A paradise for men or smaller gods. 

Gen. M. 

There's several smaller gods in Massachusetts 
With no reflection on the company. 

(Bows cordially to Winslow. 
A Hanibal some northward up the coast, — 
Who dickers — fish and lime and nets and salt — > 

Ad. B. 

But where's your little paradise? 

(Goes rear, studies inscription. 

Capt. H. ( Rising) 

At Marshfield. 
(Bows to Winslow. 
Adorned from heaven so his wife hath writ, 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 29 

With Major John writ on its angel wings, — 

The nurse will swear it on a testament. (All laugh.) 
Gen. M. (Smiling to Handffield) 

Another week there'll be another John, 

A herder at a wornout paradise — 

Annapolis — the center of the world — 

Who'll swear on bacon rinds or — bibles — if — 

Ah ! This new world's renewed by ifs and — babies. 
Capt. H. (Sits by Murray) 

If what? I fear the import of some ifs. 

Another week? A herder? General, 

There seems to be infection in the air, 

Of some calamity. I guess the if — 
Gen. M. (Sourly pacing R. to L. front) 

It's not your turn to guess at campaign riddles. 
Gen. W. (Hotly, rising) 

If we were not in uniform, I'd state — 
Gen. M. (Keenly) 

General, always make your sword your robe, 

Except when bathing — um ! or while in bed. 
"A talking sword that tends to ink, 
Too often makes its record stink." 

Since I'm accused of sundry riddles read : 

(Imitates a man violently painting. 
(Gen. Winslow reseats himself. 
Ad. B. (Laughing heartily, coming down center) 

I read your riddle readily. 
Gen. W. (perturbed and angry) 

It's mud 

To me. 
Capt. Murray (To Capt. H., L. C. front) 

All mud. 
Gen. M. (To Murray) 

Suspense till morning, Captain. 
Capt. H. (Apart) 

Halifax fog with quite a dose of London. 

Gen. M. 

(Crossing R. to L. shoves bench R. 
(front away. 
Chee-rup, Chee-rup, Chee-rup ! like morning robins, 
I've seen a Micmac spearing bitter gars, 
Um ! Just to get his hand in, not for food ; 
You know the gars crowd out the better fish? 
You are the spears. The gars? Acadians; 
The answer's plain to all. Now, Mascarene, 



30 THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 

You've made your bed here thirty years, pray tell us 
The confidential truth about these gars, 
So we can shape our unused consciences, 
And get an echo to the argument 
Of cracking, colonizing guns. 

Mascarene {Sits) 

(Murray and HandiUcld cross to bench 
(R rear. 

The problem? 
Gen. M. 

Vertebrate facts that build this sour contention. 

(All crowd around Mascarene, except 
(Moncton and Boscawen, who after 
(standing to listen a moment silently 
(pace R. to L. front. 
Mascarene 

Well ! I'm no legal leech to diagnose 
Our Nova Scotian sickness, General, 
But I would guess that spinal curvature 
Is the chief ill. 

Gen. M. 

Good ! Good ! 
(Laughs harshly, zvith Ad. B. resumes 
(walking, but listens. 

Mascarene 

Well at Utrecht 
France threw to us this far off wilderness 
Of rocks and tides and fens and savages. 
There was a little spot scratched out 
Around Port Royal, now Annapolis, — 
The fort a place to practice gunnery on 
When the war dogs got loose; a cut throat place 
In earlier times for pirate's bloody nests, — 
But to the case. What would we with the gardeners, 
A thousand heretics? A treaty clause 
Supported by a letter from Queen Ann 
Said if they staid they could be Romanists 
And have their rights of property like us. 
That if they went might sell their movables. 
The trouble first commenced with Nicholson. 
Mark that. First English governor, he saw 
His gardeners gather up their tools to leave. 
Entranced by lies from Louisberg they swore 
Anew allegiance to King Louis. Ah ! 
Suppose they went within the treaty year? 
" 'Twould wholly strip and ruin Nova Scotia." 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 31 

Gen. M. 

(Pausing at front L. C; to Boscawcn. 
I've heard Newcastle say as much himself 
Some dozen times. It must be true for he — 
Newcastle, is a shadow minister — 
The sun above brings out his blackness only. 

Ad. B. 

(Gen. M. and Ad. B. stand C. front, 
Now, Dick, you're springing up your subtleties. 
Let's not befoul our nest. Poor bird is that. 

(To Mascarene) 
Let Huguenots relate their kindred wrongs. 
(Bowing cordially. 

Mascarene 

What worth his battle or his salary then, 
If Nicholson had naught but weedy farms 
O'er swept by crazy tides to feed his soldiers? 
And so the truth is, played a double trjck, 
Serving himself and crown — too long to state — 
To hold the gardeners there. He held them too. 
He sought to draw the Frenchmen's poison fangs 
'Gainst sense, all law and precedent. A purse 
Out of a sow's ear ! It could not be done. 
Then knowing nothing of their life or aims, 
Fost'ring a race they hated naturally, 
All sought to make them loyal Englishmen 
From then to now. An ink and quill contention, — 
A scheme no higher than a signature, — 
An oath to make them English citizens ! 

Gen. M. 

Um! Lions out of foxes! Did they sign? 

Mascarene (Rising) 

Sign? Sign? It's sign and sign and subterfuge 
For forty years. 

Gen. W. 

And what about provisoes? 
Mascarene 

To carry beads and not to carry arms. 
Gen. W. 

Was such provisoes always, always given? 
Mascarene 

Save once, at first a few, each man is proof, 

Besides they have it in their records safe. 



32 THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 

AD. B. 

Do they pay tax or tithe the Government? 
Pay rent or have fair titles to their farms? 

Mascarene (Sits) 

Save quit rents on some lately granted tracts, 
It's no to all your questions, Admiral. 

Gen. M. 

The roaring Governor Phillips wrote the Board 
These 'Cadians so forgot their souls in love 
Of his administration that they signed 
A cleanly oath as slick as paw paw whistles — 
Without an "if" to stain it or to sting us. 
Let's think! I saw the very names myself 
In '31. A very holy oath, — 
Principally tailed with crosses. 

MascarEne 

I have seen 
At Grand Pre' in the scrawny hand of Phillips 
A paper signed by him and well attested, 

Dated, preserved, 

(Mascarene has risen, all, suddenly at- 
tentive, tense. Crowd around him 
(except Moncton and Boscawen. Former 
(stands alone eyeing Mascarene sharply, 
(L. C. front. Ad. B. sits, bench L. front. 

Gen. M. 

Ah! Ah! What says it? 

Mascarene 

Free exercise of their religion, — more, 
To have their priests remain confessing them; 
Entire possession of accustomed rights — 
Nor carry arms against the outer French — 

Gen. M. (Interrupting) 

Now is that possible! What packs of lies 

Are tied up in the London Board's reports; 

Lieutenants here compelled a sorry role 

The while their lords were wallowing far away 

In the dishonored fat of salaries 

Unearned, with reputations streaked the worse 

Than Laban's willows. Yes, I see ! I see! 

It's greed, incompetence and racial hate, 

The Anglo-Saxon 'gainst the Latin, urn! 

Gunpowder and humanity are still 

Unmarried. Um ! Now Col. Winslow, um! 

You are a man of much humanity, 

You've heard the problem, can you solve it, sir? 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 33 

Gen. W. 

Humanity's a word I do not know 

In dealing safe with rebel slops poured on 

One's doorstep. Since the world began there's been 

No greater kindness, largeness, yes, good will 

But easy policy than England's shown 

These harum-scarum nondescripts, our Neutrals. 

For forty years they've tilled our English land 

And never shilling jingled out their clutch 

For Church or State for their protection yet. 

Gen. M. 

Urn! Yes? You'd do? 

Gen. W. 

I'd make them sign or fly. 

Gen. M. (Covertly sneering.) 

Not with militia first time under fire. 
Now, Captain Murray, let us hear — 

CapT. M. (Furiously, coming down.) 

I say (Chokes with ex- 
citement.) 

Gen. M. (Placidly.) 

Bray on, we are all ears like asses. Say? — 

Capt. M. 

I say be damned the man of any race 

That fights the forward run of English colors, 

Nor draws a willing sword within their shadow. 

Gen. M. (To Admiral Boscawen.) 

Ah ! If our swords were long as memory ! 
What's your solution, Captain, of the case? 

Capt. M. (Foot on rise of dais, shaking with anger.) 

Take each rebellious man by scruff and breech 
And chuck him into Frenchman's Bay. That's what. 
Militia, Sir, would act like regulars — 
, At least they bettered them with Pepperell. 
Gen. M. (Contemptuously.) 

Pepperell! New he-maid of Louisberg ! (Ad. B. laughs 

derisively.) 
All fools rush in where angels fear to tread! (Aside to 

Ad. B.) 
Oh ! Be more picturesque and say like this : 
"I'd take the Neutral rosary and drop 
Each bastard bead to feed old Fundy's bore." 

(Burlesque declamation. All laugh. 
(Some repeating: "To feed old Fundy's 
(bore." 



34 THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 

Mascarene (To General Monet on) 

How would you settle this unsettledness? 
Gen. M. (Quizzically.) 

I am a soldier first and last, my friends, 

A cog that fits in Britain's red machine. 

Big wheels revolve me, I turn lesser ones ; 

The course we keep is England's destiny. 

Now, Mascarine, since we have passed it 'round 

What do you think the sanest remedy 

For chronic pains in Nova Scotia State? 

Say, lift them out and scatter them like chaff? 

(Lieut. H. rises and joins Capt. M., 
(Ad. B. rises and stands by Gen. M., C, 
(front; Gen. W. rises R. C. front facing 
(them. Moise D. rises and snuffs 
(candles; Mary N's face seen in por- 
(ticres. All tensely listening. 

Mascarene 

Forbid it God ! I'd simply colonize ; 

Dilute the settlements with saner blood; 

Master by closer touch and do not try 

To cut a Frenchman over English forms. 

Above all give them titles to their tracts. 

Land titles make the patriot. A renter 

Is not substantial in his purposes. 

I'd put a fort upon each Indian trail — 

Cobequid, Tatamagousche, to Grand Pre' — 

And any Protestant or Catholic 

From Quebec down to far off Florida 

That stuck his nose in this unholy mess, — 

Each preacher, priest or meddling missionary, — 

Humph ! He'd feed our Capt. Murray's white maned bore. 

Gen. M. 

And use the tale for a warning shofar, too 

For military hogs that rob the stye. (All laugh.) 

Mascarene 

Let faiths alone. Perhaps their faith doth smell 
As sweet as ours to Him who hath the right 
To judge it. There are several roads to heaven, 
And all damned hard to travel soldiers over. 

SCENE II. 

(Bugles. Moise Dernier hastily seats officers; Gen. Mascarene 
in governor's chair, Ad. Boscawen in chair to R. at end of dais. 
Col. Moncton in chair back of Marcarene and to front, the Cap- 
tains on bench to right of Ad. Boscawen. Grand Entrance 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 35 



doors fly open. Enter Gov. Lawrence, Judge Norris and six 
attendant guards. Mascarene vacates and stands before sec- 
ond largest chair on dais. Moise at governor's chair. As 
Lawrence enters all rise. Guards extreme rear. 



(At governor's chair, bowing in all di- 

{ rcctions. 



Gov. L. 



Good evening, lords and gentlemen. I'm late. 
The deputies are here, an honorable swarm, — 
They're frightened out their wits; be seated all. 

(All sit except Gov. L.) 
Expect a calm and measurable proceeding; 
But "yes" or "no" will do. This day ends all 
Evasions. "If" or "but" or qualification 
Shall have no place in our recourse to-night. 
Dernier, come by me for I need your tongue. 
You are the kind of Frenchman that I like. 
A bon chien, an errand dog that talks some 
But keeps his mouth shut. Un chien couchant, — 
He runs and lies and lies and runs at once. 
Damme! he runs to lies (laughs), a dog of honor! 
Tail wagger and a wagger of a tale. 
Stand by these gentlemen, translate their grunts 
And nasal slop when I turn on the screws. 

(Laughing by some; sits. Confused 
(noises outside. Bugles. Moise opens 
(doors of Grand Entrance. Soldier files, 
(clanking noises), heard slowly ap- 
(proaching ; soldiers lead in motley 
(crowd of Acadian deputies headed by 
(Henri G. in French officer's uniform, 
(with sword. Governor only rises. 
(Deputies stand. Judge Norris steals 
(out through alcove. Soldiers stand 
(rear; Moise closes G. E. doors and 
(crosses near deputies middle center 
(L. front. 

Acadian deputies, I had you come 

For most important reasons. Arguments 

I shall not listen to. Ah ! Musyer, there 

(bows low, ironically to Henri), 

Interpret me. The king's resolved to come 

Into his own. The title of the soil — 

His ; your allegiance — his. Your loyalty 

Is to king George, — or Louy, which? Perhaps 

Mistakes are in the record ; hot contention 



36 THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 

Excuses no injustice, rights no wrong. 

Are you to answer for your father's acts? 

Am I for all preceding governors? 

The question we will solve to-night is this — 

We have ten thousand renters on our soil 

Who pay no rent or recognize the landlord. 

It costs the Crown much gold and many soldiers 

To guard possession of these lands; wherefore, 

Except the Acadian hierarchy, you? 

You can not show in this peninsula 

A legal title to a foot of land. 

No one disputes this. Now the end has come; 

Get titles, help pay taxes, give your fealty 

Undivided with our enemies. 

(Henri is seen interpreting at times and 

(for a moment after Lazvrence ceases. 

(There is much shifting around among 

(them. 
Henri 

My lord! 
What is the step you'd have us Neutrals take? 
First what? 
Gov. (Grasping oath parchment roll from table.) 
I know no Neutral citizen; 
Pray do not let me hear that word again. 
The first? Subscribe this oath of sovereignty 
To our King George the II. ; promises 
And subterfuges, oral statements, such, 
Can have no voice with me. An oath's an oath, 
It hath no nursing bottle tailing it — 
Full statured, honest, manly, loyal, English. 
By all the gods I swear by — English, English ! (shouts) 



Henri 
Gov. 

Henri 

Gov. 



Shall we bear arms? 

Undoubtedly. Why not? 
(Dernier is seen among the deputies 
(interpreting. Great commotion among 
(them. 

And when we sign the unprovisoed oath 
Swear we support of State and — English church? 

(Reni Leblanc struggles forward. Holds 

(crutch like a bludgeon. 

I am no priest, nor this confessional. (Pauses.) 
You will receive the rights of citizens 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 37 

Of England. Pray what more can white men ask? 

Henri 

My Lord ! the governors, the former governors — 

Gov. (Shouting.) 

Hear all of you, I'll have no argument; 

Your history stinks like stranded Fundy fish. 

Don't tell me of your rotten oath, it smells so. 

(Dernier, who has wormed out by the 
(side of Reni, shouts to deputies: 

Moise D. 

Puant poisson ! Puant poisson ! 

(A growl of repressed rage runs through 
(the throng of deputies. Mascarene and 
(Winslozv rise and stand near Governor. 
(General Moncton rises, extreme L. 
(front, watching with hawklike kcen- 
(ness. 

Henri 

We've sworn a dozen English fealties 
Since Utrecht — 

Gov. 

Damn your treaties, yes or no? 

(Furiously.) 

This oath's (shakes parchment) allegiance unqualified. 
(Dernier interprets: 

Moise D. 

Protestante ou Catholique; protestante ou Catholique? 
Oui, non; oui, non? 

(All on their feet. Englisfi officers un- 
consciously crowd close to Lawrence, 
(except Moncton. Mary N orris and 
(other women entranced, gaze down 
(from balcony. Deputies swarm around 
(Henri, who is very calm. Lawrence 
(draws sword, leans on it and views 
(the turmoil, terribly aroused. Reni hob- 
Wing forward shakes his crutch at 
(Lawrence. 

Reni Leblanc 

Non ! Non ! Non ! peintre en batiments ! Parvenu 
Gouverneur ! Spoiliateur ! 

(Henri advances, turns and quiets dep- 
uties by a gesture. 



38 



THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 



Henri 



Gov. 



Henri 



Gov. 



Henri 



Gov. 



(To Gov. L.) 

Are you both Judge and Executioner? 
And where your jurisdiction or your law? 
Have we no legal rights to be set up 
For English juries? 

Forty troubled years 
You've chosen legal isolation, and knew 
No law save what seditious priests ingrained 
In your suspicious natures. We have held 
The cup of English sovereignty and law, 
Have you accepted? Every subterfuge 
Of Gallic subtlety you've practiced on us, 
And being fuller statured with immediate arms 
You've wheedled, whined, defied us. Now the end. 
You'll sign this oath or fly. 

But other governors 

(Moves to front of dais. 

Beware ! There is no further argument. 

(Both advancing unconsciously. 

(Henri draws sword. 
Hold ! Life is not so sweet or death so feared 
I may not speak. Since you cannot respect 
Acadian rights, respect my word. Its steel 
Is worthy yours and every gleam and flash 
Is lit with France's fame and every thrust 
Is fibered with a soldier's honor. (Plays szvord.) These, 

(Turns to deputies. 
Political bastards of dishonored wedlock, 
Kicked off the doorsill by their father — England — 
A striped tiger dancing with a lamb ! 

(Lawrence starts violently, gyasps his 
(sword as if to thrust. Messenger 
(rushed through crowd from 2nd L. B. 
(in hot haste, hands the Governor an 
(official package. Tense silence as 
(Lawrence tears it open. He reads 
(aloud. 

"Gov. Shirley, Massachusetts, to Gov. Lawrence, Halifax." 
General Braddock with two thousand regulars in the 
wilderness near Duquesne, were ambushed and mur- 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 39 

dered by the Indians and French, July 9. Not one 
escaped." 

(Screams crazily. 

Ambushed, murdered by the French! Ambushed! Mur- 
dered ! Oh ! the damned heretics and traitors, mur- 
derers ! Surround them there. Drive them into the 
prison. Kill them! Kill them! 

(Soldiers suddenly rush in and in a 
(mighty confusion drive deputies into 
(the prison. Lawrence is held by Wins- 
(low and Mascarcne. He breaks away 
(and lunges at Henri. They fight. Mary 
(N. runs down and through alcove and 
(stands at door of alcove. All English 
(off stage. Henri and Lawrence are 
(fighting furiously. Henri pinks Law- 
rence's forehead 

"A striped tiger" you low born spy! 

(Duel continues. Henri unsivords Law- 
rence (who falls on knee), poises his 
(blade above him as if about to thrust, 
(hesitates, sheathes sword, retreats past 
(Mary who covers and prevents Law- 
rence from following. 

Henri (At rear door.) 

Dogs as well as tigers have their day. (Exit.) 

(Lawrence grasping his szvord runs out 
(Grand Entrance, shouting: "Guards; 
(Ho guards!" Stage in disorder. Mary 
(withdraws in alcove. Sounds die away. 
(Full minute of stage emptiness. 

SCENE III. 

(Mary enters, on dais, listens intently, mob sounds have died 
down. Faint sounds of singing from prison. Picks up parch- 
ment on floor.) 



Mary 



Ah ! "Dogs as well as tigers have their day !" 

(Deputies are singing a hymn, more 

(plainly heard. 
My blood goes tingling down my spine like needles. 

(Reading the oath parchment. 
Here hangs a race's destiny, no hand 
To save them. Ha ! the tiger's in me, too. 

(Listens to singing. 



40 THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 

Like martyrs singing hymns before the torch. 

{Lawrence enters running, rear door 
(R., fe.ee streaked with blood. Fiercely 
(shouts at Mary. 
Gov. 

What do you here? 
Mary (Yawning.) 

Oh, picking icicles, sir. 
Gov. 

What foolish answer ! Are you daft ! You mean — 
I will not brook a woman's interference ; 
You'll bundle back to Hingham just as soon 
As Captain Rouse can get his morning's sails full. 
(Rushes up to her intimidatingly. 
Mary (Calmly looking him in the eye.) 

I will not bundle back to Hingham. sir. 
For any wind that fills that pirate's sheets. 
Gov. 

Do you, just you defy me? Ha. ha. ha. ha! 
A homespun petticoat contests the king. 
Some swords are scabbarded in apron strings. 
But mine's unsheathed in England's righteous cause, 
And no Xew England shrew shall guide its point. 
Mary (Haughtily.) 

I have no words to waste on parvenus 
Whose pedigree is writ with boatman's paint; 
A reputation shorter than his sword, 
A striped tiger dancing with a lamb ! 

{They pause, eye eaeh other fiercely. 
Sh ! Hist ! she's pointing at you Governor. 

{Mary erouches, look of terror simu- 
lated. 



Gov. 
Mary 

Gov. 
Mary 



Faugh ! Nothing, nothing ! Miss, your father tells me — 

So, hath he told you I have second sight? 
At times behold the spirits riding air — 
The empty wind? I saw just now a hag — 

A hag? My god, a hag? 

'Twas not a hag. 
A w-'tch, a yellow, grisly, witless witch. 
Just risen from the dirt from out a fit. 
As drunken, stooped and stretching, now 
Sniffing her hands and crying as she gropes — 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 41 

{Lawrence crowds behind her with in- 
(cr easing fright. 
Gov. 

Wa ! Oo ! No, no, no, what does she say ? 
Mary 

"Pe-e-e-p ! Pe-e-e-p ! it's raining blood." 

(Lawrence rushes out with a bellowing 
(noise of fear, calling guards. 

SCENE IV. 

(The same. Some one in French addressing deputies in 
prison faintly heard. Glimpses of prisoners through barred 
window.) 

Mary 

A ghost, a renegade, a hag, a shrew ! 

I'm doing well but where is Henri gone? 

Escaped? So now long prayered New Englanders 

Are whetting up their hymnal butcher knives 

Since Braddock in that far off wilderness 

Is festering with two thousand soldiers ; — 

A crimson streak of slaughtered men unburied; — 

All chopped and ripped by tomahawk or knife, 

And torn by buzzards — going back to nature 

Like a dead wolf forgotten in his snare. 

Races with mountain peaks between — no room? 

My soul is sick to death of murdering wars. 

SCENE V. 
(Henri enters suddenly R. door tear.) 

What! More diplomacy? Good night! Good night! 
(Turns her back on hi in. 



Mary 



Henri 

Hold ! Mary Norris ! Some mis-happened force 

Has shot me through with your perfection. Oh ! 

Since you have saved me from his coward blade 

False hope has torn anew my heart for you. 

To-night I see the end. Our race is run ; 

At last I kneel at love's confessional. 

(Kneels behind her. Dumb play by 
(Mary. 
Mary (Without turning.) 

Arise, not all is lost? Your honor's saved? 
Henri (Rises.) 

Yes, all is failed me, home, ambition, love. 

I had no thought except my country's good. 



42 



THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 



Mary 
Henri 

Mary 
Henri 

Mary 
Henri 



I've heard them plot Acadia's ruin here 

In these dishonored walls. If reason wrongs 

If Justice fails, if Mercy's dead to us 

Is pity tearless in your woman's soul? 

(Dumb play, — struggle; she half turns. 

Why — Monsieur, what could I do for you? 

Do? Wake, cry out murder, a race, a race, 

Is being murdered all for England's glory — 

But hide within your heart the proscript's shame, — 

Who could but worship an accessory. 

(Turns fully toward Henri.) 

Henri, friend, I — have — your — cause — at heart. 

You have our cause at heart ! You and — you ? 
My God! She does not mean so much. Is't pity? 
A dream? "Tis she and yet — that — can not be. 

"Tis I. No ghost, no hag, no renegade; 

A woman sick of soul, of blood, of wrong. 

I wake; cry "Murder! Murder! Acadia 

Is being murdered, all for England's glory." (Shouts.) 

( Tempestuously. ) 

Then join your soul to mine — Acadia's cause; 
We'll battle 'gainst this mighty wave of outrage — 
Soul-linked contend with all our little strength 
And trust to God to find the dry path through. 
Oh Mary, Mary! Come, oh! Come with me! 

(He extends his arms, she hesitates, 
(then flies into his arms. Kisses him 
(passionately. Approaching steps heard, 
(they glide apart and hide in little al- 
(cove. Enter Lawrence, rear, stealthily 
(with ready sivord. 



SCENE VI. 



(Scene same. Wicket and window show prisoners. Singing of 
the prisoners plainly heard.) 

Gov. (Center front.) 

She's gone, thank God ! Ha ! Sing away, sing on ! 

(In whisper.) 
Who cried out "Murder ! Murder!" in this hall? (Pause.) 



Gov. 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 43 

The very air is full of massacre 

And damned spirits screaming evil at me. 

(Regains courage, sheathes sword, lis- 
(tens intently. 
You bastard citizens, full soon the rest 
Of you, ten thousand more will help the chorus. 

(Laughs.) 
There's Moncton, Murray, Winslow, Handifield, 
Good hunters for this kind of cackling fowl; 
And I have caught one hundred at a cast, 
The very finest capons of the roost. Ha! ha! a! a! 

(Struts, then listens again. 
You cackle, Lawrence crows. (Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!) 

That's good. 
Moise Dernier says that Henri Gautier 
Is proscript from Grand Pre. Ah ! if he be 
I'll tie a bolder to his neck and drown him 
Alike a cat, tomorrow. 

(Feels forehead and sees bloody stain 
(on fingers. 

I could love 
A steel knit wrist like that. It's he or I. 
He could have run me through — but — saved the stroke. 
But — no; he knows too much, he knows too much. 
(Peers in alcove, discovers Henri but 
(not Mary. 
Ho! guards! Ho! guards! 

(Three guards run in unarmed.) 
Sieze him, white-hearted mice ! 
(Henri runs out and takes position L. 
(C. front. Guards refuse to tackle Henri 
(zvhose hand is on his sword hilt. Law- 
rence furiously lunges at Henri, who 
(with a Hash twists Lawrence's sword 
(across the room. Guard leader rushes 
(for it, but Henri only smiles.. Mary 
(rushes out of hiding and snatches 
(Henri's sword and fences leader across 
(the stage into depths of alcove. The 
(uproar and shouting of Lazvrence 
(brings armed throng on, who manacle 
(Henri, who is carried to prison and 
(thrust in. Struggle ending at prison 
(door. 

Out all. I'll find out whose governor here, — a wench 
Or spy, or me. (Shouts.) Guard gates of palisade. 

(Exit rear, running. 



THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 



SCENE VII. 



Mary (Breathing hard.) 

His sword! and streaked with healthy English blood. 
Avenging angels of the Lord can — fence. (Laughs.) 
But where is Henri gone? Is this the end? 
What terrible thing you are in this wide world ! 

(To sword.) 
Thou hast a million specious arguments 
To falsely plead in glory's name to — slaughter. 
The Christ would spurn thee thing of blood ! 
Thou anti-Christ ! 

(Casts sword away — before prison door. 

In Henri's arms ! his lips ! 
My God, what have I done? Is that called love? 
Another title, fool ! soft-hearted fool ! 
Yet — I will reason like a Cumberland: (Pause.) 
He comes and pleads with music sweeter far 
Than any I could think was in this world, — 
To join his outlawry? To be the wife 
Of an Acadian proscript, hunted head? 
A spy? Perhaps to lead a doubtful cause? 
A rebel? heretic? Frenchman? enemy 
Of England? Else? Depends the side I'm on. 
To wed or not to wed, is that the question? 
Our lives like various sorts of pendulums 
All swing to different arcs, some fast 
Some slow, none right exactly to a hair. 
He asks this fleshy pendulum to hang 
Among his soul's machinery. Ah, then! 
And will the mental arc I swing for him 
Quite fit his earth time? He may run too fast, 
Too slow, get altogether out of gear. 
Then will he try to mend me to his wheels? 
The time he keeps is of the kitchen shelf, — 
Or is it in the tower for king or fool 
To stare at? Ah! what e'er it be it hath 
A charming chime. And I ? For darkened parlors, 
A grave, ancestral clock much out of time. 
I shine — five hundred years of polishing. 
I'm pretty honest workmanship, but have 
Sharp angles here and there — and out of date 
Not keeping time for anybody — yet. (Wrings hands.) 
Suppose I squaw it in a den of smoke 
And poles? A prescript's wife, Acadienne? 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 45 

(Soft 1st violin. Picks up Henri's 
(sword and fondles it. Reverie, soft 
(light tilling face. Kisses hilt. 
They think because they lock his body up 
They turn a key upon his regnant soul. 

(Hears Henri's voice in prison talking. 
(Rushes to prison door, then aivay, re- 
{ turns, hesitates. 
I'll break the bars myself. 

(Shakes door. Shouts into prison. 
Acadians ! 
Come rend and thrust, give blow for blow, leave off 
Your prayers and hymns and doubly smite to earth 
This devil Governor. Home ! Home ! Red murder 
With smoking hands is crouching on your doorsteps. 
Henri! Henri! Henri Gautier ! (Calling through wicket.) 

The key, the key, the key! 
(Henri appears at barred window. 
(Exit D. rear, returns with keys. Hears 
(footsteps and with keys and Henri's 
(szvord hides in alcove. 

SCENE VIII. 

(Provost and two watchmen enter, Grand Entrance. Henri 
appears at wicket door of prison, sees guards and passes on.) 

Provost Guard 

You, James, watch this gate till twelve and then I will 

relieve you. I will take Thomas to the rear gate. There's 

a great commotion as you know and the Governor is 

furious. Make no mis-step or there will be trouble to 

last a year. (To the other guard.) Come with me. Exit. 

(Sentry sits in governor's chair and 

(goes to sleep. Mary watches him. 

{Henri appears at wicket and she signals 

(him. Sentry snores. H. passes on. 

SCENE IX. 

(She comes out with keys and sword cautiously, C. front, 
Lights low.) 

Mary 

Sh! Ah! New England renegade in service! 

(Whispers.) 
And shall I? Will I? When I put this key 
Within that lock and turn the bolt— ah, then!— 



46 THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 

I cross the nation's dead-line. Did I pledge him? 

Sh ! outlaw's wife! I did not say I'd wed him? 

A price on both our heads? My lineage! 

Grand daughter of a Cumberland, descent 

Of royalty! Pedigree? A golden chain 

That manacles a bloody robbery 

Unto the witless braggart of the crime. 

(Steals to prison door. Returns to 

(L. C. front. 
Accessory sleep or this stone floor will run 
With color. 

(Pointing sword at sleeping sentry. 
(Goes to prison door again and waits a 
(moment. Gently knocks with sword 
(hilt. Guard stirs. She whirls and poises 
(sword over him. 
Sleep as thou hast never slept. 

(Sentry with back to her yawns. She 
(ready to thrust. Sentry sinks to sleep 
(again. 
"Tis well, sleep on. 

(She unlocks door and knocks with 
(sword hilt again. Returns to L. front. 
(Henri comes out, comes to her. She 
(unlocks and takes his manacles, re- 
turns to prison door and relocks it. 
(Henri crosses to L. C. front. Mary 
(crosses to R. C. front. 

Henri (Extending arms.) 

Thou angel of the sepulchre : 
Come, come with me. 

(She hesitates, goes slowly toward him, 
(with eyes cast down, hands him his 
(sword. He sheathes it. Guard yawns, 
(Henri retreats to L 1st, she mute. He 
(again extends arms, she shakes head 
(in negation, sentry rises, goes to prison 
(door. 

Lost, all* is lost. 
(Mary glides into alcove. Henri glides 
(out L. 



(Curtain.) 



GRAND PRE STOCKADE 



ACT. IV. 

(Church and Mission rear, trail leading through meadows, grain fields and 
forest beyond ; Cape Blomidon, red-faced cliff dim and distant to the right. 
Stockade being completed in front with wide highway entrance to L. C. 
Tents within, upper part of Leblanc's house (Act 1, Scene 1) seen. Forest 
on R., beginning of apple orchard with road leading in on L. Grapevine 
swing in forest, willow with seat L. Part of street houses to R. back. 
English colors on Mission and gate posts ; spire and bell on church. At 
rise Acadian women and children L. front seen covertly watching stockade 
scene at back, weeping. Soldiers rather idle with hammers and axes at 
stockade entrance. English summons, large red seal, seen on willow and 
on forest tree.) 

SCENE I. 

Davey (To provost marshal, outside of stockade gate.) 

Do you know the meaning of all this Provost? This picketing of 
the mass house these three days? The general seems unlike himself. 

Provost 

That's right. He has bad business to his hand at once I guess. 
A moment since I saw a soft eyed lass over there look on with 
troubled face and she went away with her mantle in her eyes. What 
a mellow voice they have, such mournful eyes. 

Davey 

The devil's in the wind. I guess and hold my tongue. Yesterday 
I saw the Black Robe talking softly to a harvest crowd as they stood 
reading that summons. "Pourquoi" they would ask again and again ; 
then some would point to the empty ships. I saw an old man with 
a crutch, in hot argument with some behind the priest's back. He 
forgot himself and swung his crutch and fell in a heap. (Soldiers 
laugh. ) 

A Soldier (Rising from ground and coming near) 
What did the old he-devil do? 

Davey 

Put him on his feet again and counseled patience. This Father 
Landry is a Christian man. 

Provost 

What! How can you speak so! He is a hateful, jabbering, med- 
dling hertic. Can a man be good with a soul deformed? He like 
all the rest is in league with popish devils. It's no crime for them 
to strangle a protestant baby, or poison an English well. They call 
us swine and devils. Professing friendship they hire the savages to 
hunt for English scalps. Ah ! mine's worth five pounds six at 
Louisberg. A Christian man ! His spittle would poison like a 
snake's. 



48 THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 

A Soldier 

To whom do you make confession, Davcy? 
• l 

Confessional 1 Bah! who's not somewhat cracked in character? 

It seems no worse than men sharpening up their bayonets to prod 

these "Id French mothers and maids from homes. To tell the truth, 

lads, I'm stomach sick of this kind of war. War dog vomit! Bah! 

Provost 

All's fair in war and spoonin'. 
DavEy 

(Crossing to L. and R. as he talks to liimsclf. 
Yes, stomach sick of such damned rabbit war as this. Ah ! here's 
a land for you unperjured English soldiers. (Looks out L. 2nd.) 
I lire blooms a savory quietness for wasted lives that bloodmen 
live. Ah, me! look down on that long stretch of lime-washed cot- 
tages, rimmed 'round with old world flowers. Eh? 

(Provost and some of the soliders rise and gaze 
(off to R. rear.) 
Stare down there on those "grand prees" filled with fatted cattle, 
Those grainfields, orchards. See the Neutrals peaceful working; 
Look at the Minas Basin wrapped in gold and blue! 
Mails! (listens) I can hear that summer music still unwrit. 
"Nature's busy gabble 'round her Idling hives." 
Damme! I learned that line from a' book. That's poetry. 

(To a soldier. 
John, would you like to shake a smelly cover down 
Of apple blossoms, falling adream of home? 
Or stuff on berries, pippins, cider, honey, milk? 
Not buggy peas and mouldy biscuits, soured molasses; hell! 
Ah! all of us would like to have a heavenly choice 
To go to sleep at one these open dormer windows 
After a belly-bursting supper we sometimes get at home, 
With a slow June rain tattooing soft upon the clapboards. 

(./// crowding around Davey, drool, etc. Dti-eey 
(closes his eyes and soys softly — 
As soft as a sweetheart's first touch around one's neck; 
Then wake at sun-up, the room aswim with sunshine 
The smell of roses, the jangle songs of robins — 

Provost ( Burstingly) 

Oh Davcy! Davey! Davcy! In God's name could you forget the 
smell of hominy, eggs and ham? And — a pint of the Neutral's rum 
from Martinique ! 
Soldier (Slamming down his hammer and sazv) 

Oh! suffering heaven! A pint? A tubful with a dipper! Hey! 

(Suddenly all madly join hands and circling around 
( I hrrey sin;.;: 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 49 



SOLDIER'S SONG. 



Ring around a rosy, tubful o' rye, 

Help yo'scl' to dippers lads, no one zvatchin' nigh; 

Fines' belly fodder-o, thai anybody's seen; 

Choose yo dip an' szvig' 'cr, then snuggle down and dream. 

He, hi, Ho-Ho-Hol 
Lord-a-Mighly ain't it jolly 

After breakin ranks, 
Chasin' out the melancholy 

By sojers play in' pranks t 

llcy! Hey! Ilcy-lley-llcy! 

Workman (Coming out of stockade gale) 

I'd like to know what you arc doing here? I don't sec any dipp, 
any rye, nor any hay. 

Provost (Short, violent hoedozttn.) 

The cats will play when the mil iy. 

We die to fight for another day; llcy! llcy! 

(All circle around the newcomer and sing the 
(over again. Some horse play. Cease, some sit, 
me fan themselves. 
Workman (A.) 

1 have a secret, lads. When General Pompous (hist! hist!) 
went to see Capt. Murray at Fort Edward yesterday, "Timid 
Knowlton" of Osgood's ship, thai whale boal coxswain, you rei 
ber him, tall as a pine and a fraidy-cat! — ran in on 'em I say, to 
tell him the tide was soon to go out and they could not wait, why — 
something, — 
Provost 

Come, Sammic, tell it. 
A. 

That — that! Hey! Hey I He-hi-hay! (Panics a rough (limbic shuffle.) 
Provost 

Oh! damn your hay, what did he hear? 
A. 

I fear my tongue might make a hid to ride a "horse." 
Davi-y 

By all the holy smoke of Rome we will swear you out. 
A Workman (B.) 

A Papist oath! another name for treachery. (Declaiming.) 
"Religious oaths are always streaked with blood." 

(They circle around him and roughly tumble him 
(down as they circle, singing He, hi, ho-ho-ho! etc. 
Provost (Looking out R. 3rd B.) 

Histl Shi (all suddenly quiet) Hi! you haymen. Say, Sammic, 
what did Knowlton hear? We will be mum as corpses 
(Imitates Gen. Winslow. 



50 THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 

A. 

Well this ; "Murray this is the sorriest business I ever was engaged 
in. Why in heaven don't those ships come from Boston? Are you 
ready for your catch." Put that in your bloody gizzards. 
Davey (shocked) 

So this is a place we are picketing to catch French pigeons in. 
My soul ! Men, women, children, babies ! Has King George got 
down so low as that? 
Provost (startled) 

Sh ! Sh-h ! We will ride a horse till we break his back if we 
libel the king. (Some looked shocked, others scared.) 
Davey 

I'm a Bay State man pressed into service. My time is up. There's 
many Bay State men who do not care a tinker's damn for Kings. 
(Proudly.) 

Provost 

Hold your tongue ! Are you a friend of the Neutrals ? Think of 
Capt. Howe shot under a flag o' truce up at Fort Cumberland ! Get 
your loyalty up Davey by thinking of Braddock, Deerfield. 

(Several crozvd around Davey threateningly. 
Davey 

Capt. Howe was shot by renegade Indians up at The Neck, on the 
boundary line, no man's land. Braddock? Huh, a stuttering Col. 
Pepperell or Capt. Washington, yes or Black Rodgers would never 
been caught in a hole like that. These Acadians can't fight, they have 
no guns to fight with. Bah ! 
Provost 

Who pays for our scalps at Louisberg, Davey? 

Davey 

The outer French, curse them. These Neutrals, these 'Cadians 
would not hurt a baby. 

(A few of the soldiers laugh in derision. Soldiers 
(seen within stockade in hot arguments. 

One (X) 

These hellhound priests ! Trying to save a red skin's soul. 
Has a bobcat got a soul? 
Another (Y) 

Can you trust a heretic? Where did you find these sweet Neutrals 
in '48. Didn't they follow the service of the French army here? 
Another (Z) 

I am in for scattering the whole lot,— every soldier a maid and a 
farm. 

Davey 

Shame, shame ! 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 51 

A Soldier (A) 

What does this man load his gun with? 
Others 

Hymn books ! Mush ! Popcorn ! We want a farm ! A maid ! 

(Crowd around Davcy, some laughing others men- 
acingly. 
Davey (C. front) 

Lads, I'm a Bay State man. When in service I obey commands. 
I never had militia fever when on the skirmish line. My mind, 
my soul's my own, not the king's. No Bay State man wants to 
shoot women, children, mangle babies. No Bay State man wants 
an Acadian maid or an Acadian farm unless he weds the maid and 
buys the farm. We are American's first, the king comes second. 
Provost 

Oh ! curse your Bay State farmers, they will be Neutrals too if 
they are much like some scouts I know. I say be damned the man 
who dares say anything against King George II. (Looks around for 
encouragement.) 

Soldiers 

So say I ? Me too ? Damn your Bay State. You too ! You are a 
traitor! I'm for a maid, a farm! Ship them out. (Riotous.) 
Think of the confessional, the priests feeding grounds ! Braddock ! 
Braddock ! Braddock ! Howe ! Squaw man ! Braddock ! 

(Davcy surrounded, handled roughly. Pushed, 
(tumbled across the stage. Din increases. Shouts 
(of "knock him down," etc. Suddenly General Win- 
(slow appears accompanied by Fr. Landry. 
Gen. W. (In a voice of thunder, entering R. 3rd E. 
Silence here. To quarters ! 

(Soldiers slink back through Stockade entrance. 
(Gen. W. and Fr. L. cross to C. front. 

SCENE II. 
(Drop on Stockade Scene.) 

Fr. L. 

What mean those soldiers shouting Braddock, General? 

Gen. W. 

Surveyor to the King I think and killed by Western Indians. No 
great matter, father, one the more or less. 
Fr. L. 

No great matter! (seems shocked). Ah! yes; but they quarreled 
with that scout, why so? He seems a kindly man. 
Gen. W. 

My soldiers — do not like — the savages, they did not have you 



52 THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 

good French in mind. Oh no ! ha ! ha ! ha ! Non, non, monsieur. 

Pardonez moy, now is that good French? 

(Fr. L. seems preoccupied. Paces zvith hands be- 
(hind him, head bent, etc. He is furtively watched 
(by Winslozv. 

You have a very fine tongue of English, Father. 

(Priest bows but continues round. Stops and gases 
(sadly out R. 3d B. Lips seen moving. Returns, 
(paces. 

Fr. L. 

I see five new sloops have come. 

(Watches Winslow hawkishly. 
Gen. W. (Agitated) 

New ship have come? Sloops from Bos — er! Ah, yes! you know 
my ships are not enough for my soldiers here. Besides I have more 
soldiers coming from Halifax. We will soon be gone, Father. I 
am sorry indeed to the very heart to take your church for barracks. 
Soon the good news will be told you. Have you explained the 
summons? 

Fr. L. 

I have explained it as well as I could many times. I fear my 
people are so busy with belated crops that they will not come. The 
rains of August have been very severe. Harvest is late. 

Gen. W. 

Oh no, no, no; Father Landry, that will not do. The King com- 
mands, we must obey. To me disobedience means dishonor. Ah ! 
Father, soon will end our long perplexities. Peace at last. (Smiles 
and bows.) Peace at last! 

Fr. L. 

But do you want the lads ? It is that I cannot understand. The lads ? 

Gen. W. 

Ah, Father! You know how quickly they carry news. His 
majesty has pleasing news for all your youth. Pray clear your 
mind's foreboding, except they disobey the summons. 
Fr. L. 

I will tell them and all shall come. I trust in your soldier's honor. 
Soon I hope our troubled lives will be at peace. Adieu. 

(Exit 2nd L. Fr. L. bows gravely with a heavy 
(heart. Gen. W. bows several times zvith simulated 
(light hearted gaiety. 
Gen. W. 

At peace? Ah, peace for England after forty years! 
But what a hellish end for all their trials here! 
I cannot make my heart and judgment meet. Sh! Peace! 
Ah ! such a peace will leave a stain on England's honor, 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY S3 

A thousand years of tearful shame cannot blot out. 

And yet — and yet — it — must be right. It — must be right. 

(Draws a little note book from pocket. Reads it 
(silently. Writes, closes it, returns it. 

At least I'll write a record that will smoothe my case. 

And later? Stop the gnaw of critical rats. Sh ! Peace! (Exit L. 3d.) 

SCENE III. 

(Scene the same. Enter Moise Dernier and Mary Norris, R. 3rd E. 
mounted. Dismount. She in Acadian costume. He takes off saddles L. C.) 



Mary 



Moise, I seek a place to rest. I'm fagged and faint. 
And do I look the Neutral maid ? Oh for a glass ! 
Go take your horses off and make excuse for me, 
A girl heart-sick of England's perfidy. Now hurry ! 

(Impatiently as he stands gaping. 
A place to rest, to sleep and keep my presence hid. 
What is that place you told me of, Leblanc? Leblanc? 



Moise 



Non, oui, mam'selle, un droit a' sleep, a' rest, Leblanc. 
(Exit L. 3rd with horses. 

Mary (Pulling off gloves) 

A red sea must be here. And shall I pass dry shod? 
I've crossed my nation's dead line to the enemy. 

(Tosses whip towards saddles. 
Oh ! all I left behind is poisoned bitterness ; (paces) 
Before? The silencing my soul's unrest. The end? 
God knows ; here rises — sets, the single soul of two ; 
And that ? Humph ! Something more or less in France's shame, 
But nothing, nothing more or less in England's glory. 

(Dreamily repeating. 
Soul-linked contend with all our little strength 
Against this mighty wave of outrage. Ha ! 

(Enter Moise and Jean Leblanc. Women eye each 

(other. 

MoisE 

And thees Mamselle Leblanc, — she has a tongue of English and 
thees the Lady Norris. She is seek, — seek of eating with the English. 
(Bows profoundly. Exit 2nd L. with saddles.) 

Jean ( Timidly) 

Welcome, Lady Norris. 

Mary 

And you speak our language, how delightful ! 



54 THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 



Jean 



'Twas Jules who taught me, brother Jules long schooled in Paris. 
Ah ! if you knew our Jules, my noble brother Jules, — I do not know 
where he is, (about to weep). Le Monsieur Moise says he's down 
at Chebuctou, Halifax. Le Monsieur Moise says he has got 
away. But Monsieur Moise is so kind — he lies so. Pardon me, 
my tongue runs in and out like Gaspereau. I will show you. Come 
and rest with us. (Exeunt 2nd L.) 

SCENE IV. 

(Moise re-enters followed by several young Acadian girls in gala attire 
with food baskets, asking him many questions most volubly in old French. 
Some imitate Mary, others mouc. He goes out with saddles, girls anxiously 
following. Returns alone, seems searching for something. Finds the whip.) 

Moise 

What a chase thees ees ! Thees can do it. (shakes purse.) 
Thees, n-est ce pas? Si le governeur connatre — fit! fit! 

(Makes double slash across his throat with handle 

(of riding whip. 
I bring good horses back a' le governeur! (Winks.) 

(Pulls official looking paper from pocket. 
Autority! (Smiles knowingly.) Pass with horse! Le honorable 
Governeur, le honete homme. (Winks.) I'm his dog. (Frowns.) 
Tail wag man and man wag tail. Garr-re ! I will remember-cela. 
Un chien couchant, gar-r-re! Le shepherd dog, (barks) 
Mam'selle hunts chcre lovaire je chcrchez le chere cheval, he ! he ! he ! 
Le shepherd dog, sacr-r-re ! Le Honera-able Governeu-u-r. 

(Goes out cracking whip and barking. 

SCENE V. 

(Scene same. A dozen young Acadian picnicing lasses, much beribboned, 
without. Exuberant gaiety, conversation in part in old French heard. 1st 
and 2nd violins, simple lively quickstep. Two rush in, dance to right.) 

Marie 

(Running back to L. 2d B. looking out and beckon- 
ing. 
Hurry ! Jeanette and I have found a perfect heaven for a picnic. 
Hasten, you poke-alongs! 

(Gay girl voices outside. 

Jeanette 

( With a scream running to grapevine swing. Swings. 
A swing, a grapevine swing ! Glory ! 

(Marie swings with Jeanette. Very gay. 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 55 

Marie 

(Gathers up her basket and runs back to entrance 
(again. Pretends to eat. 
I am eating all the honey up. 

(Shouts of dismay. Girls burst in with noisy hap- 
(piness. Marie is climbing a tree. Girls set baskets 
(C. back, cast headdresses anywhere. All try to 
(swing, two bump and fall. Marie in tree taking 
(off shoes and stockings. Jcanctte pretends to be 
(shocked, pointing to Marie. 

JEANETTE 

Stockings for sale ! 
Marie (Singing.) 

"Shoes and stockings for sale, for sale, 

Made down under the sea." 

(Placidly hangs stockings on a limb. Marie is long 
(time pulling off stockings, — girls swing, play, dance, 
(whirligig, pirouette, etc. 
Marie (In a hoarse voice of horror) 

A man ! A man ! Two of them. 

(Sudden decorum. Some of the girls primp. 
(Marie hides behind tree, tries to reach stockings. 
(Dumb play of failure and dismay. Indicates by 
(actions the approach, nearer and nearer, of the 
(men. Girls below infected ivith the dilemma of 
(Marie. She cautiously squirrels around the tree 
(trunk, suddenly standing boldly out. 
Marie 

Bah ! I am not afraid at any man. 

Honi soit que mal a pense. (Declaims.) 

Jeanette 

(Who has primped the most and has put on her 
(head-dress. 

Oh! (disappointment and disgust) where have they gone? 
(All gay except Jeanette, who sits bereaved. 

Marie, have they gone really? (Plaintively.) 
Marie (Solemnly) 

They are dead. 

(Coming dozvn. Doubles up stockings and throws 
(them at Jeanette. Jeanette suddenly gay. Beats 
(girls with stockings, white yarn. 
Jeanette (screamingly) 

Let's go barefoot. 

(Sudden plunge for shoes. All take off shoes, girls 
(seated in a half circle. Jeanette picking up Marie's 
(hose and shoe goes round inside the ring, begins to 
(sing: 



Chorus 



Chorus : 



56 THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 



SONG BY ACADIAN LASSES. 

Shoes and stockings for sale, for sale, 

Made down under the sea. 
This shoe was cut from the fin of a whale, 
This stocking's the lace of a mermaid's tail, 

Come buy, come buy from me. 

(Girls sing but stolidly refuse to buy. 

Sweethearts, sweethearts, from old Grand Pre' 

You'll go barefoot for many a day, 
Ere footwear so fair will be for sale, 
Riding the foam of the blue Minas gale, 

Sent by a Prince under the sweethearts bay. 
Come buy from me, come buy. 

Shoes and stockings to sell, to sell, 

Made down under the sea; 
This slipper was cut from a pink sea shell, 
This hose was wove in a Dolphin's dell, 

Come buy, come buy from me. 

Shoes and stockings for love, for love, 

Made down under the sea, 
Each by a Prince is patterned and wove, 
He's dreaming and waiting for some one above — 

Come buy 

(Mighty contest for shoe and stocking. Sound of 
(distant horn, scramble for shoes, hats, etc. 
(Exeunt. Marie returns, searching, has one shoe 
(on without stocking. Disconsolate. 

Where is that stocking? 

(Looks up in tree, moves around aimlessly. Sings 
(snatches of tunes. Steps on pebble, screeches, 
(limps, nurses foot, pouts with pain, then 

Stocking, stocking, who's got my hose? 

A girl's best friend wherever she goes, 

Her worst when out at the heel or the toes — 
(Suddenly finds stocking. 

Oh ! Inside out ! I've lost my beaux. 

(Dumb play of vexation and disgust with stocking. 
(Takes off shoe, puts on stocking, but still fighting 
(stocking quietly. Tics on string garter and pulls it 
(as if to choke it. Goes to exit, raises skirt to knee, 
(views it, angrily ties garter VERY tight. Exits in 
(rage. 



Marie 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 57 



SCENE VI. 

(Scene same. Music (soft violin, minors) for one minute or longer. 
Mary and Jean discovered walking, sisterly aspect, both silent, sad. At 
length Mary speaks hesitatingly.) 



Mary 



Jean 



Mary 



Jean 



Mary 



Jean 
Mary 



I had a dream about your brother Jules, my dear, 

A foolish dream. And did you say that he was deputy 

At Halifax? Speaks English? 

{Looks away dreamily, sighing. 

I knew one deputy — 
Not Jules. I've journeyed here to find him. That's a secret. 
I have a message for him, Jean, — to tell him that — 
To tell him — ah! do I forget! (Laughs tearfully.) 

Why seek him here? 
For all are prisoned there, so Moise says. My Jules 
Is trapped like all the rest. (Weeps.) Oh, wherefore could that be? 
And now they come with summons to our little church. 
Today, September 5th, a Friday — hangman's day; 
What means it all, oh! what means that? (Points to notice.) 

Is that the call (reads.) 
"A forfeiture of your estates and chatties if" — 
You do not come. And lads but ten years old? And men? 
And signed — 

The General Winslow, order of the king. 
They're posted everywhere — Port Royal, Pizaquid, 
Cannard and Habitant. Oh ! tell me, tell me, friend, 
Is this a trap to snare, to pen us up like Jules? 

I can not think such English infamy as that, 

(Hesitates, then slowly, 
Hark, Jean ! There's one that got away at Halifax, 
A brave and noble man. Now hold your lips like death : 
'Twas I who let him out. 

Mon Dieu ! Mon Dieu ! was't Jules? 



Not Jules. That one — he should be somewhere here, 
So Dernier says. 

Jean (Excitedly) 

And what's his name, his name? 



58 THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 

Mary 



How should I know his name among the hundreds there? 



Jean 



Oh! Lady Norris, tell his looks, his coat, his speech? 
Had he a kingly stride like this? Or this? (Imitates.) 

Mary (falteringly) 

His gait? I do not know — except — it — is — a princely stride. 

His coat? Some lace, a sword. His speech? Ah! that was music, 

A harp that sings long after — when the singer's gone. 

His looks? Ah! that is quite beyond me — something like 

The music. (Picks flower.) When I look I see him there. At night 

I wake from troubled sleep ; 'tis then I hear his voice 

A-beating at my heart, the faroff sound of hymns ; 

Again my heart's hot flame at touch of bearded lips ; 

In the darkness see reproachful eyes, extended arms — 

I hear a sentry's yawn — a broken cry of "Lost !" 

And then — and then, he went away — away! (Bursting wail.) 

Jean (in Mary's arms.) 

And with him went your secret heart. And yet you know 
Not e'en his name? (Astonishment.) 

Mary (falteringly) 

His name? A Poutrincourt, perhaps — 
A Henri Gautier, a proscript — a spy — 

Jean 

Jules ! Jules ! Lamour de Dieu ! 
(Kisses Mary tempestuously. They cling to one 
(another, etc. Tramp of soldiers heard. General 
(Winslow's voice heard behind: "Lie lozv. When 
(you see the signal, spring hotly up and file around 
(the church. Davey, you and Provost James 
(Marshal lock and guard the doors. To your tents, 
(and do not show a head till you hear a gun." 
(Tramping and confusion. Mary and Jean tense, 
(listening. At L.2 E, pause. 
Mary 

A Lawrence here as well at hateful Halifax ! 

Oh, God! is love and hope and justice dead! (Exeunt running.) 

SCENE VII. 

(Raise drop, full scene as first, Act IV. General W. seen at stockade 
entrance pacing nervously back and forth. Shades eyes, scans back trail 
and looks out L. entrances. No soldiers seen, no sentinels. Acadian men 
and lads seen coming down back trail, then from all directions. Enter stock- 
ade directed by Fr. Landry to church. A few women at L. front E. half 
hidden, anxiously stare or peep. At last all appear to have arrived, General 
W. gives a signal and there is the report of a small gun. Soldiers spring up 
as if out of the ground, rush and are seen in double file around the stockade 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 59 

inside. Davey and Provost rush to and lock church doors. Women are 
pointing to a flying horseman seen coming down the back trail. Mary, 
partly disguised, and Jean seen among women at extreme front L. As stock- 
ade gate slams to with a crash Henri rushes in 3d E. R. and sinks down 
exhausted among women. Mary withdraws.) 

Jean 

Oh Jules, what does this mean? 

(French women crowd around Henri talking excit- 
edly. 

Henri's Mother 

(Sinks down and tries to embrace him. 
My son ! My son ! 

Women 

The deputies. 

Where's my Brassard? Noel? Petticode, etc. 

(The crowd of women call out various names. 
Henri (Rises) 

My God ! Too late, too late, too late ! A fall I got 

Prevented me. (Loudly.) Dispersez chez maisons, go home. 

Your fathers, brothers, lovers there will not return. 

Go home; tell all the rest; Jean, stay here. 

(Women exeunt wailing. Henri puts arm around 
(Jean and they walk R. and L. front back and 
(forth. Mary half hidden L. 3d E. Dumb play. 

Oh Jean, our cause is lost. Our home, our properties 

Are lost. A double price is on my head now, Jean ; 

And why? I loved my people, tried to save them all. 
(Jean clings and weeps. 

Lost then, myself, my love. 

(Starts up in desperation as he sees the sentinels, 
(gun tips) pacing behind the stockade. Sentinels 
(not seen. 

My soul for a hundred swords? 
(Releases Jean who goes out weeping to Mary. Henri 
(sits despairingly on willow root under the huge 
(willow. Marie goes near him. He rises and ab- 
stractedly places arm around Mary's waist. Both 
(pace. Then both sit. 

Now I will tell you, dear. I've kept it from your, Jean. 

I listened at a secret meeting of the Governor. 

I know their plans — to spill and kill us anywhere; 

Husband from wife, our father from our mother, all 

The precious bonds of home and life and love of us 

Acadians shall break; will scatter us like sheep 

When wolves get after them. There's one at Halifax 

I loved with all my soul — Delilah ! Delilah ! 



60 THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 

(Lays head affectionately on Mary's cheek, unnotic- 
(ingly. Mary seems to make effort to disclose her- 
self. 
She saved my life, released me from my prison house, 
Was in my arms, clung 'round my neck and kissed me, Jean. 

(Releases Mary violently, rises and crosses R. front, 
(Mary follows, casting all disguise aside. 
Henri (wildly) 

Oh God! Oh God! Then— then— cast me out 

To these curst wolves now ravening in our homes ! 

(Soldiers seen hunting on back trail. Henri gazing 
(intently at them. She puts arms around his neck. 
(There is a noise at the stockade gate and it flies 
(open and a squad of three come out, armed. They 
(see Henri and start for him. Quick as a Hash he 
(kisses Mary. Gate shuts. 
Run Jean, run ! 

(Duel of swords with three bayonets. One soldier 
(is quickly thrust through and staggers out L. 2d. 
(Battle very fierce. They work to R. 2d. Mary 
(interferes and is knocked down with gun butt. 
(Henri and soldiers work out R. furiously. Noise 
(of fight grows fainter, then a scream of agony. 
(Silence. Mary struggles to her feet. Staggers to 
(L. 2d. 
Mary 

Now New England proscript, renegade, spy, — Acadienne ! 

(Exit L. 2d dropping handkerchief. Henry enters 
(from R. panting, carrying two guns and powder 
(horns. Sets them against the willow. Sword 
(bloodstained. 
Henri 

Three human wolves the less ! 

(Sees the handkerchief on floor. Picks it up, 
(smells it. 

Bois-d' arc ! Sassafras ! 
Mary's? My love here? 'Twas Mary not Jean I kissed? 

(Goes to L. 2d, calls, — 
Mary! (low tone, pause) Mary! (loud voice) Mary Norris ! (loud 
call.) 

(Goes to R. C. front. 
She is here? We will find the dry path through! 

(At R. 2d gazing intently at the stockade gate, slowly 
(backs out with sword in hand. Mary rushes in 
(2nd L. to C. 
Mary 

Here ! Here Henri ! Through hell itself shall try to overwhelm us. 

(Curtain) 



LA TOURMENTE 

ACT V. 

(SCENE 1, ACT IV.— Set deeper and further R- Armed sentinels within 
seen passing back and forth before open stockade. Soldiers on benches 
within stockade cleaning accoutrements. Soldier workmen with tools idling 
at R. front. Women, weeping, with baskets of food waiting at gate ; some 
with shy children sitting on benches, other women with children huddled 
on ground near entrance, sleepy, waiting, children clinging on skirts, weep- 
ing.) 

SCENE I. 

1st Sentinel (at gate, pausing) 

The devils in there are acting ugly. The general sent in Father 
Landry yesterday to talk them quiet. 

2nd Sentinel 

What did the Black Robe say to them? What do they want? 

1st Sentinel 

To get out, of course. They all ask what is to become of their 
families. Some are afeared nigh to death of what is to become of 
their families. Every time a wench takes food to them they 
come out with red eyes. Some of these have been waiting half 
the night. Poor devils; I wonder if they are to be shipped away? 

2nd Sentinel 

Pooh ! There's not half ships enough. It will take a fleet. 

(Sentinels come close and whisper for some time. 

1st Sentinel (aloud) 

That's right. But suppose there was a mutiny, a break away ! 
2nd Sentinel (First Sentinel whispers to 2nd sentinel then) 

My god ! I could not do that. 
1st Sentinel 

All's fair in war. But damme ! these women and children do make 
me queasy round the gills. Why not take them at their word and 
ship them to Louisberg? 

(A third soldier leaves his work and breaks into 
(the conversation of the others at the gate. All 
(cast furtive glances towards headquarters. 



Soldier 



Let them go to that nest of traitors at Louisberg? They'd spring 
back at us in revenge as soon as they got a gun, with the red skins 
at their heels. They hate us undyingly. We could not trust them 
any too much before. If we let them go in crowds they'd soon be 
back in regiments with French officers leading them. There's only 
one way now. The General has burnt his bridges behind him. 
Only one way now. 



62 the acadian proscript 

1st and 2nd Sentinels 

What is that? 
Soldier 

Burn, kill, scatter, wipe them off the map. 

2nd Sentinel 

I see, I see. Burn, kill, scatter. Do you know how many the 
other captains have got penned up at the Port and at Fort Edward? 
Soldier 

At Fort Edward some 200, but Capt. Handifield, down at the Port 
dealt with a different breed of swine. They took to the woods and 
bunk with the Indians. They are used to the tricks of the trade 
down at the Port. I hear they are wronging women at the Fort 
on the Piguquit. 
2nd Sentinel 

What difference is that with popish she cattle about to be gam- 
breled. (Pause.) Burn, kill, scatter. 

1st Sentinel 

That's right. All are bound for hell any way, according to our 
preaching. Some of these officers rob the roost while the men are 
locked up, I've heard. We don't get a fair divide. They say that 
the Governor has the count of every tail in the peninsula, horses, 
cattle, sheep, swine, even the fowls. I saw seven droves of fat 
cattle go past the other night to Capt. Rouse at Lunenberg. 

( Warning sign from men at work inside. Door 
(of headquarters opens and a priest is seen talking 
(vehemently to some one inside. Sentinels resume 
(pace. Give sign to workmen. All suddenly busy. 

Soldier (to workmen R. front) 

Sh ! It's a damned shame that Jim and John have to ride the 
"horse" for stealing a little hen meat while some wearing lace, lob 
off a whole carcass. They can't half hide their own devilment. 
Here comes that lean-faced god-man, Father Landry. 

(Goes sullenly back to his work and all silent and 
(busy as General Winslow and Fr. Landry approach 
(talking earnestly. 

SCENE II. 

(Curtain on stockade scene.) 

Gen. Winslow 

My heart is moved for you, but what can I do but obey my king? 
There are fierce, resentful looks within that church that mean mutiny 
and danger to us, Father. They plan to seize the ships, my men 
overheard them, and every plan and action suits not the whole- 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 63 

some business of the king. Can they not wait a few days longer? 
Wait for the glorious news? 
Father Landry 

The wholesome business of the king? What's that? 

These children, General, are misunderstood. 

Their minds are free of blood as playful hares ; 

Their lives as peaceful as a harvest moon. 

They do not dream of crimson deeds of power, 

And they obey their church as you your king. 

Almost one hundred fifty years ago 

Their fathers peaceful anchored at the Port; 

Came here and lived unvaried lives of peace, 

In this wild water-cradle of the world, — 

Until the clashing brawls of old world kings 

Found echo in our sunny silences. 

Some years ago an accident of policy, — 

An obscure codicil to testaments 

Left us a legacy for force and greed 

To tear at. They are like your Schuylkill men — 

There is no venom in their gentle blood, 

And long have lived in brotherhood — a faith 

Too soon for this sword flashing world. Some say 

Your king hath said to us "Begone !" There is 

Not room for you and us? The world too small? 

Oh ! General, in the name of lowly Christ 

What will you do with us? Suspense is death. 

'Tis now a month since you have penned them there; 

Ten thousand anguished prayers in broken homes 

Go up each night to God — and yet no answer. (Pause.) 

Oh ! General, answer me, what mean those ships ? 

Gen. Winslow (Evasively) 

The captains of the ships have their instructions. 

Fr. Landry 

But you not know what those instructions are? 

What is our wrong in living peaceful here? 

We dyked and ditched th' uncertain mud and sands 

And fought the crazed sea back for farms and meadows. 

Here are no beggars, jails, — out-wedlocked babes; 

No thought of blood or lust or idleness. 

We have full joy of life's serener music; 

And love a mass bell as we love our lives. 

Now if your king by legal subtlety 

Doth will to dispossess us of our lands; 

Doth will by force to take our grain and stock; 

His pleasure to reject our ancient fealty; 

Doth set you here with skillful artifice, 

Penning us up like cattle; Oh! pray wherefore 



64 THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 

Break families into fragments of despair 

And make a wandering hell of homelessness, 

For least ten thousand loving, gentle souls? 

General Winslow — answer me, what the end? 

Tell us the fate to which your king hath doomed us? 

Gen. Winslow (Hesitating, confused) 

It — is the — order of King George the Second — 

To — scatter you down th' Atlantic coast. 
Fr. Landry 

My God ! And has it come to such a fate ! 

To what defilement comes such kingly touch ! 

Oh! This is Devil's justice, English mercy! (kneels) 

Almighty God, thy will be done — but — yet — 
Gen. Winslow 

Beware your words ! There's been no harshness yet. 

'Twere easy now to make you feel the smart 

That comes from hot tongued arrogance — 
Fr. Landry (Rises) 

Not yet? 

Xo harshness yet? Imprisoning deputies 

In stinking dungeons in the Summer's heat 

As you have done at hateful Halifax? 

Burning up homes and breaking trustful hearts — 

Driving our mothers to a woe too deep 

For words — suspense slow eating up our souls — 

Our children crying, crying for their fathers 

Through these portentful days — your soldier squads 

A-hunting down our fields for boys and men — 

Young wives debauched by brutal soldiery — 

The talon hands of our supposed protectors 

Clutched into our hearts — no harshness yet? 

Not yet? 

Gen. Winslow 

Xo more, no more, you hot tongued priest. 
They go this hour. Go tell the unmarried men 
Get ready for the ships. And I tell you 
For your unseemly words shall go with them. 

Fr. Landry 

And did you think I could desert them now? 
May hell my spirit have do I forsake them 
In this their agony. I go. May God 
In your last hour show you a common mercy 
That you or your black-hearted English king 
Refuses now. 

(Exit. General Winslow paces ragingly. Raise 
(drop on stockade scene. 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 65 

SCENE III. 

(Before church door. Three sides hollow square of armed guards formed 
before it, two file deep. Women, small children, dogs, run around the out- 
side of the square. Gen. Winslow is seen in the square which lengthens as 
the scared young men and boys are called out of the church. Calling and 
culling continues. Mothers rave. Boys inside of square call to their mothers, 
run around and try to get through ranks. Father Landry calls out the names 
of the youth.) 

Fr. L. (Calling out in old French) 

Come Pierre, come out Renie, no, only the lads. Come out, God 
will protect you. Jacques, Louis, Robicord, etc., etc., etc. 

(Calls out various names. Many of the frightened 
(youths fall on the ground. At last all seem culled 
(out. Soldiers ten Hie, two ranks, suddenly deploy 
(behind and complete square. Church doors locked. 
(Fr. L. on steps praying, etc. 

Gen. Winslow 

Attention ! Ready, march to the ships. 

(Soldiers lift feet as if marching, but lads cast 
(themselves on the ground and refuse to move. 
(Renie Leblanc rebellious. 

Renie Leblanc (Screaming) 

Mon pere, ma mere, mon pere, ma mere, ma mere, ma mere ! 

(Jean Leblanc and Mary Norris, the latter partly 
(disguised, seen near. Jean rushes along Hies and 
(suddenly breaks through and is locked in a des- 
(perate embrace with Renie, her brother. Soldiers 
(try vainly to separate them, Gen. W. disheveled, 
(rushes through, pulls them apart brutally and whirls 
(Renie headlong. Jean thumped by gun butts — cast 
(out. The scout, — Davey in ranks seen weeping. 

Gen. Winslow (Shouts) 

I know not father or mother here. March on. Prod them if 
they do not move. March on, to the ships. 

(Soldiers prod boys, who scream with pain, — begin 
(to move off. Crazed, tumultuous multitude of 
(women, old men, small children, dogs, seen wind- 
ing down to ships. Vanishing crys of "Ma mere, 
(mtsn pere!" Mary Norris appears. Guards pace 
(stolidly before church door. Fr. Landry rises, ad- 
vances near Mary 

Fr. L. 

I deemed that hell itself was far below, but find it here. Accursed 
king! Oh, for flaming swords, thrust, cut, rend, strangle. (Insane 
rage suiting words.) Devils pursue them, kill them, kill them, kill, 



66 



Mary 
Fr. L. 
Mary 

Fr. L. 

Mary 

Fr. L. 
Mary 

Fr. L. 



THE ACADIAN PROSCRIPT 

kill {tears robe in rage, suddenly recovering, abject contrition.) 
Oh God, forgive, — Father, — my Father, I forgot — Thy will be done, — 
Thou knowest best, — I — I — (wrings hands. Sees Mary.) How comes 
it that you do not follow that stream of woe. Ha! I do not know 
you. You are not one of us. 

Where is Jules Leblanc? 

Escaped. But who are you? I know you not. 

Father, I can trust you. I am an English girl from Halifax. 
He is here, and — somewhere here is — my life. 

An English girl from Halifax ! I do not understand. 

I am an' outlaw of English justice. A woman whose heart is 
broken like a useless reed. In God's name where is Jules Leblanc? 

Are you the one he called for all through his fever? Are you 
Mary Norris? 

Father, I am Mary Norris from Halifax. Where is Henry 
Gautier ? 

(He leads her away to R. 3d B. Soldiers seen 
(returning. Mary hesitates. 



I will lead you to the forest road. He is up there. He rose from 
his bed this morn. 

(Lays hands on her head, silently blesses her. Exit. 
(Soldiers and crowd return. Soldiers reform before 
(Church door. Fr. L. moves around among crowd 
(comforting them. 

Gen. Winslow (To Fr. L.) 

Unlock the doors. Call out the married men. Captain Rouse, 
take your torches to the lower end. Hasten, the signal one gun. 
Two guns mean hasten to the ships. Leave not a stick. Burn all. 
Force the rascals out, make speed. 

(Husbands forced out hastily. Wives rush around 
(square calling out husbands' names. Some scream- 
ing, others sit stupidly on the earth, "saying" their 
(beads dumbly. Jean runs ragingly along sides 
(calling for her father. 
Jean L. (see father prodded by gun butts as he hobbles) 

Father! Father! Ha! ha! ha! a! a! a! (Goes insane.) 



A HISTORICAL TRAGEDY 67 



SCENE IV. 

(All are out of church. Begin to chant before they move off. Great con- 
fusion and noise outside of square. Mary Norris seen climbing heights. 
Chant suddenly stills tumult.) 

CHANT. 

Vive' Jesus, vive' Jesus, 

Avec la croix son cher partage 

Vive' Jesus, vive' Jesus, 

Dans les coeurs de tous les e'lus 

Vive' Jesus, vive' Jesus. 

{Repeat twice. General mounts church steps and 
(waves his sword thrice. One gun solemnly booms 
(from the ship. Soldiers with torches seen run- 
at lower end of the village. Flags struck. 



Gen. Winslow 

Attention ! Forward, march. 

(Multitude moves off toward ships. Fr. Landry 
(leads chant. Lower end of Grand Pre' in flames. 
(Henri seen high up on Cape Blomidon, Mary 
(unseen by him is struggling upivard near him. 

CHANT. 

Portons le croix, portons le croix, 
Sans choix, sans ennui, sans murmure, 

Portons le croix, portons le croix 
Quoique tres amere et tres dure 
Malgre les sens et la nature, 
Portons le croix. 

(Sounds of chant, die away. Cannons thunder out 
(twice. Henri turns, sees Mary, embrace. The 
(Church suddenly with all Grand Pre' in flames. 

FINIS. 




S '07 



Announcement. 



The publishers beg to announce that they will have ready- 
inn fnr flip nress 



soon for the press 



"THE FINAL WORD ON ACADIA" 

This will be a mechanically beautiful volume similar to this, 
in which the author cites all known evidence bearing on the 
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and all integral material in Canadian, English or French archives, 
including the new testimony collected by Rameau and the 
L'Abbe H-R. Casgrain. The author endeavors to give a critical 
estimate of the cited testimony as to its integrity and shows 
wherein the evidence is exaggerated, mutilated, suppressed or 
lost. It is believed that any intelligent reader may for the first 
time arrive at a competent conclusion on this much be-deviled 
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"The Green Devil Tunnel," and Other Tales 

This volume of short stories from actual mining life are dra- 
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Harrington-McInnis Company. 



FEB IS 1907 






